Breaking Down Nate Schmidt's Surprising Success for Capitals in 2013-14

Nate Schmidt has been a pleasant surprise for the Washington Capitals so far this season. But the fact that the rookie defenseman even received a call-up during the first month of the NHL season was a surprise in and of itself.  

This time last season, the Capitals' sixth-best prospect according to Hockey Prospectus was busy playing for the University of Minnesota. Schmidt scored nine goals with 23 assists for 32 points in 40 games during his junior season in Minneapolis, with 16 penalty minutes, five power-play goals and one game-winning goal.

In three seasons with the Golden Gophers, Schmidt totaled 12 goals, 62 assists and 74 points in 96 games to go with 36 penalty minutes, eight power-play goals and two game-winning goals. 

After the Gophers' 2012-13 season ended, Schmidt made his professional debut with the Hershey Bears. Schmidt played eight regular-season games in the AHL last year, scoring one goal on 18 shots with three assists for a total of four points, with a minus-four rating and two penalty minutes. 

The 6 0", 194-pound blueliner then played for the Bears in the Calder Cup playoffs, logging two assists and a plus-one rating while playing all five games against the Providence Bruins. Capitals GM George McPhee was impressed with Schmidt's play last spring, as he told Tim Leone of PennLive.com: 

"

We were really happy with him in the playoffs last year when he came in. That's not easy for young guys. The American League is a tough league. It's a good league, the second-best league in the world. He came in and played really well. 

"

The 22-year-old Schmidt was expected to return to Hershey for the 2013-14 season. On Sept. 5, Tim Leone wrote that "Schmidt is scheduled to attend Washington's NHL camp. He can't be ruled out of a challenge for an NHL roster spot, but the expected scenario for him is to get lots of playing time and experience in Hershey and perhaps loom as a recall option." 

But Schmidt never donned a cocoa-and-cream sweater for the Bears this season. Instead, he debuted in the red, white and blue of the Capitals on Oct. 12, becoming the 24th of 52 AHL Alumni to debut in the NHL so far this season, according to TheAHL.com. 

Since then, Schmidt has not left the Capitals lineup. 

To gauge his progress, take a look at his rank in specific categories among 10 Capitals defensemen, 42 rookie defensemen and 252 NHL defensemen: 

CATEGORY	STAT	TEAM	ROOKIE	NHL
Games Played	20	5th	12th	137th
Goals	0	7th	28th	177th
Assists	3	5th	16th	137th
Points	3	5th	16th	156th
Plus/Minus Rating	-1	5th	23rd	139th
Penalty Minutes	6	7th	18th	168th
Shots	29	4th	10th	96th
Average Shifts Per Game	21.2	5th	19th	183rd
Time-on-Ice per Game	19:08	4th	9th	120th
Short-Handed Time-on-Ice Per Game	0:25	10th	27th	199th
Power-Play Time-on-Ice Per Game	0:12	5th	23rd	162nd
Hits	13	7th	15th	169th
Blocked Shots	22	5th	14th	145th
Giveaways	14	2nd	7th	62nd
Takeaways	8	4th	7th	62nd

These numbers do an excellent job of illustrating how well Schmidt has played. In particular, look at Schmidt's time-on-ice per game. He ranks higher in that category than Capitals veterans Tyson Strachan and John Erskine, while also ranking ahead of other relative newcomers on Washington's defense like Steve Oleksy and Alexander Urbom. Plus, he ranks in the top 10 in time-on-ice per game among NHL rookie blueliners. 

This excitement can be tempered when looking at Schmidt's special teams minutes. He ranks dead last on the team in short-handed time-on-ice per game, and within the bottom third among all NHL defensemen. His rank in that category will most likely not change anytime soon.

However, Schmidt's time on the power play should increase in due course. Schmidt is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who likes to shoot the puck. He appears to be cut from the same cloth as the injured Jack Hillen, who was ranked third on the team with 0:53 in power-play time-on-ice per game when he went down in the second game of the season. 

The last four categories listed in the above table can determine the type of player Schmidt will be throughout his NHL career, as they are the bare essentials of defensive statistics. Schmidt is not overly physical; he has registered better than one hit for every two games played this season. But he remains defensively responsible, averaging better than one blocked shot per game. 

The last two statistical categories in particular reveal a dangerous dichotomy in Schmidt's game. He ranks second on the team and 62nd in the NHL in giveaways. This category is typically dominated by blueliners who like to join the rush, and are therefore vulnerable to turnovers. Case in point: Schmidt's teammate Mike Green leads the Capitals and is 11th in the NHL with 24 giveaways. 

Yet Schmidt forces opponents to turn the puck over, as well. He also ranks 62nd in the NHL in takeaways. In other words: Schmidt giveth, and Schmidt taketh away.  

Capitals fans may have to live with these truths about Schmidt's game as his career progresses. If Schmidt is able to improve on any of his deficiencies, then all the better. But even as he stands right now, Schmidt has been a pleasant surprise for the Washington Capitals this season. His development should be fun to watch. 

Note: All statistics updated through Nov. 25 courtesy of NHL.com unless noted otherwise.