With Thursday’s arbitration date looming, the agent for Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt remains optimistic a deal can get done before the scheduled hearing.
Matt Keator of Olympic Sports Management, who represents the restricted free agent, said Monday he hoped to talk to Knights general manager George McPhee and close whatever gap remains in the negotiations and avoid having to go in front of an arbiter.
“We’re in the same range,” Keator said. “It’s just a matter of talking and getting a deal done that’s fair to both sides.”
McPhee, who is attending the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan, said through a team spokesman that things are status quo in the process and that the team will make an announcement when and if a deal gets done prior to Thursday.