The Vegas Golden Knights'; blue line has been dealt a blow, as defenceman Nate
Schmidt will miss the first 20 games of the 2018-19 season. The 27-year-old was
 suspended by the NHL on Sunday for violating the league';s
performance-enhancing substance policy. Schmidt will be allowed to participate
in training camp but is ineligible to play in the preseason.

The earliest he can return to action is on Nov. 18 against the Edmonton Oilers.
 His absence from the Vegas lineup will be felt given he was arguably the
Golden Knights'; top defenceman last season. With that in mind, below are three
 main takeaways from Schmidt';s suspension.Golden Knights Lose a Top-Two
Defenceman

For nearly the first quarter of the upcoming season, the Golden Knights will be
 void of one of their best blueliners. Schmidt patrolled the top defence
pairing for a majority of the 2017-18 campaign and would have done the same
this season. The University of Minnesota alum hit the ice more than any Golden
Knights skater last year, averaging 22:14 of ice time per game. Schmidt logged
1,960 total minutes of ice time in 2017-18.Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate
 Schmidt leaves a glaring hole on the blue line following his 20-game
suspension. (John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports)

The five-year veteran was a significant contributor both defensively and
offensively last season. In 76 games, Schmidt recorded a career-high 36 points,
 ranked 2nd among Vegas defencemen. The St. Cloud, MN. native is a strong
puck-mover, racking up 31 assists to go along with five goals. His assists
total was tied for the highest among Golden Knights blueliners. His defensive
point shares rate of 4.8 was the second-best on the team; DPS is an estimate of
 the number of points contributed by a player due to his defence.

Getting shots on goal became a problem for opposing players when Schmidt was on
 the ice. The former Washington Capital registered a career-best 121 shot
blocks last season, including eight games of at least four blocks. He thwarted
five shots in two matches last season. A primary reason why Schmidt led Vegas
in ice time was his tendency to avoid the penalty box, as he logged just 16
penalty minutes in 2017-18. His ability to stay away from the 'sin bin'; was
indicative of his discipline.Shea Theodore';s Time to Shine

With the regular season nearly a month away, the Golden Knights'; coaching
staff have a big decision on their hands. Filling the void left by Schmidt';s
20-game absence on the top pairing will be a high priority for head coach
Gerard Gallant. Luckily for him, Vegas has a stable of blueliners capable of
skating alongside-presumably-defenseman Colin Miller on the first
pairing.Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore has a great chance to replace
Schmidt on the top blue line pairing during the first 20 games of 2018-19
season. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

Expect blueliner Shea Theodore to emerge as the favourite to replace Schmidt
during his suspension. Pegged as a breakout candidate for 2018-19, Theodore
played the best season of his three-year career in 2017-18. The Langley, B.C
product recorded 29 points off six goals and 23 assists in 61 games. His goal
total was second amongst Golden Knights defencemen, while his points and
assists ranked third in the same positional category.

At just 23-years-old and fresh off his greatest campaign to date, Theodore is
primed for a bump up the depth chart. The former Seattle Thunderbird of the
Western Hockey League was selected 26th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2013.
Schmidt';s ban allows for Theodore to cement his first-round billing by
succeeding as a top-two defenseman. The British Columbia-born defenceman
displayed admirable playmaking ability and increased responsibility could lead
to an improvement in his defensive skillset.The Other Candidates to Replace
Schmidt

Theodore isn';t the only nominee. Another blueliner that could challenge for
the top-two role is defenseman Brayden McNabb. What he lacks in offensive
prowess is made up for by his bruising physicality and overall defensive
repertoire.Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has the thumping
physicality to torment top-line forwards in the NHL. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY
Sports)

McNabb was the only Golden Knight with a higher DPS than Schmidt last season
with a 5.0 mark. The Davidson, Sask. product did not hesitate to throw the body
 around, as he led the Golden Knights with 225 hits in the regular season.
Blocking shots became second nature for McNabb in 2017-18, as his 176 shot
blocks were a team-high and ranked sixth in the NHL.

A sleeper in this race is veteran defenseman Deryk Engelland, who packs a
skillset similar to McNabb';s. The 36-year-old blueliner is coming off the
finest offensive season of his career, where he notched five goals and 18
assists for 23 points. But where he is most effective is in the shot blocking
and toughness departments. Engelland finished with 150 shot blocks and 126
hits, which were second and third respectively on the Golden Knights.Vegas
Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland will look for an expanded role on the
 blue line while Schmidt';s 20-game suspension is active. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY
Sports)

There is no doubt that the Golden Knights will miss Schmidt. However, if one of
 the three aforementioned blueliners plays exceptional hockey as Schmidt';s
replacement, do not be shocked if one of them maintains the top-two role once
the Minnesota-born veteran returns from suspension.

The post 3 Takeaways From Schmidt';s Suspension appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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