Nate Schmidt Has Gone From Healthy Scratch To A Premier Player

Nate Schmidt has gone from a healthy scratch to a premier player in the Western Conference Final. Talk about your breakout seasons.
Schmidt has developed into the top blueliner with the Vegas Golden Knights and his play has caught the attention of fans and media across the NHL.
The Minnesota native is an elite skater and has a disruptive defensive stick. He can erase the best offensive player the opposition has to offer and has done it night in and night out this NHL season. The players, however, are when a player makes his name and Schmidt has elevated his play under the Stanley Cup spotlight.

Schmidt is averaging 23:05 minutes per night in the post-season and almost all against the opposition's top line. The LA Kings, San Jose Sharks and now the Winnipeg Jets have all been introduced to Schmidt and learned exactly what he offers.
Schmidt offered up a few minutes after Wednesday's morning skate.
Is skating the foundation of your game…
I think that's where it starts. Skating is definitely part of it along with the other things that are a part of it too. It's funny, I was going up like I was a pretty good skater. It was only when I got into Junior Hockey and college I started to focus on it. People were always saying, "why do you work on something when that's already your strength?" I answered with, "you have to make it a focal point in today's game. You HAVE to be able to skate in today's game." It's just the way the new age player is.
Will your skating allow you to become one of the top 30 D in the league?
If you look at those top 30 defensemen, how many of them can skate? I think it's something that it is pivotal as far as I go to the thing that's going to take me there. I think when you get into that type of category you have to bring a little bit more to the table than just one thing, but at the same time that can pull you into that type of conversation.
Thoughts on what in your mind is a No. 1 defensemen…
It's a guy that can play full tens. He is very responsible defensively and that can also do things offensively. The way I look at it is you it can be a guy who is a number one power play guy or a second penalty kill guy or vice versa. A guy that can do a lot of different things and that can play against everyone's first line and can make plays under any situation. I think those are the big things that you can get.
Thoughts on you play against the other team's best guys, you are out there for the start of the penalty kill, and you get a chunk of the powe rplay…
I think that's kind of the way you look at the new age defensemen. It's not just a guy that does one thing or two things well. It's a guy with a whole package. I think that's why some of the best defensemen in the league can do those things. I have always thought of the guys that can do those things. My favorite defensemen of all time is Nicklas Lidstrom can do those things and that what kind of defines what the defensemen can do.
Thoughts on the enormous growth you have had this year, and where more can you grow…
I think you can see the game, look at the game, and understand what the players are trying to do and be a little bit more. I think it's efficiency, sometimes you get yourself chasing and you see guys like Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the last round and you watch a guy like that he is very efficient on what he does. He defends well and creates with his offense. I think being efficient and being in a better position, like I find that my stick is one of my assets and the way I defend with it and defending with your feet it's not so much defend with your body anymore. It's defending with position, your feet, and your stick.
Thoughts on how much you're enjoying the challenge of Mark Schiefele…
Yeah, it's great. He's a great player. Him and Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor have been playing really well throughout the playoffs. It gives you the chance to be part of a team that goes out and has to play against these guys, or a group of guys that has to go out and someone has to do it. McNabb and I are loving the challenge because it really puts you in a position and it puts it in perspective where you belong in the league, what you can do. That's what we need between the two of us right now.
Thoughts on why you like to have so much fun…
You know, you never know. This game and professional sports, you never know if things can change. When you have something good going with a group, it makes it so much easier for me and my personality to shine and shine brightly amongst this group of guys. We have a lot of fun together. For me, you never know what's going to happen in this game and in this business. Like I said, you see something good and you want to be a part of it and just kind of grow with the rest of your teammates.
Thoughts on what it was like being unprotected by Washington…
Man, it was very difficult because you thought you did enough. In playoffs, I thought I did enough and put myself in a position where I wasn't going to be in that type of scenario. But at the same time, I couldn't have been more happy when I got picked. It was a little bittersweet, you're happy about a new opportunity. It's sad leaving your old team. But I couldn't be happier with how things worked out for both teams. I'm glad they are where they are.
Thoughts on if this is the most fun you've had as a hockey player…
Yeah, this is great. It doesn't even feel like we're in the conference final, in a good way. It feels like we're just having fun with this group and we are playing hockey for fun every day.