It was one of Nate Schmidt’s first preseason games with the Florida Panthers. He tried something on the ice, but it didn’t exactly work as planned. He returned to the bench, and in no uncertain terms,

Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt has four assists through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final vs. the Edmonton Oilers.

Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt has played well and energized Florida through the playoffs and into the Stanley Cup Final.

As the Florida Panthers prepare for a Stanley Cup defense, we look at the three best destinations for pending free agent Nate Schmidt.

For Schmidt, the opportunity to blend into the newly formed Florida Panthers lineup was, in some ways, a release. Schmidt is not alone herein this the seasoned Gustav Forsling, with Dmitry Kulikov and others,