Golden Knights sign Schmidt to 6-year extension

The Vegas Golden Knights inked defenseman Nate Schmidt to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.95 million, the club announced late Wednesday night.

The deal is front-loaded and includes a 10-team no-trade clause, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Schmidt is currently serving a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program.

The 27-year-old is suspended without pay, but when he returns, he'll be in the final season of the two-year, $4.45-million pact he inked with the Golden Knights after being plucked from the Washington Capitals in the expansion draft two summers ago.

Schmidt posted a career-high 36 points and led the Golden Knights in average ice time at 22:14 last season.

He was suspended on Sept. 2.

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