Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt filed for arbitration, one of 30 NHL restricted free agents to file before Wednesday’s deadline.
Schmidt, who rejected the team’s qualifying offer, was selected from Washington in the expansion draft. The 25-year-old earned $875,000 with the Capitals last year.
The Knights and Schmidt can negotiate a contract before salary arbitration hearings take place July 20 to Aug. 4 in Toronto.
Schmidt is expected to play major minutes on the blue line for the Golden Knights thanks to his skating and puck-moving abilities.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pounder had 17 points (3 goals, 14 assists) in 60 games for the Capitals last season and stepped into a top-four role in the playoffs when Karl Alzner missed six games with a broken hand.