Las Vegas Golden Knights sign defenseman Nate Schmidt to two-year contract

The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Nate Schmidt to a two-year, $4.45 million deal following an arbitration decision.

The team announced the arbitrator's decision on the contract Saturday night that is worth an average annual value of $2.225 million.

Schmidt, 26, was selected by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft on June 21, claiming him from the Washington Capitals.

The 6-foot-1, 194-pound Schmidt played in 60 games for the Capitals during the 2016-17 season and recorded 17 points (three goals, 14 assists). He added one goal and three assists in 11 playoff games.

Schmidt, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., initially signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota in 2013. He owns 43 points (eight goals, 35 assists) in 200 career NHL games over parts of four seasons.