Cole Schwindt

Cole Schwindt
Schwindt with the Calgary Wranglers in 2022
Born (2001-04-25) April 25, 2001 (age 23)
Breslau, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Vegas Golden Knights
Florida Panthers
Calgary Flames
NHL draft 81st overall, 2019
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2021–present

Cole Schwindt (born April 25, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 81st overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, for whom he debuted in 2021, and has also played for the Calgary Flames.

Personal life

Schwindt was born on April 25, 2001, in Breslau, Ontario, Canada,[1] to parents Jason and Laura Schwindt. He grew up the oldest of three boys, both of whom play hockey as well.[2]

Playing career

Schwindt played as a youth with the Kitchener Jr. Rangers of the Alliance Hockey League before playing major junior hockey with the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

After his second season with the Steelheads in 2018–19, Schwindt was selected in the third-round, 81st overall, by the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Schwindt with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024.

In the following 2019–20 season, Schwindt appeared in 57 games with Mississauga, recording a team-leading 71 points with 28 goals and 43 assists. On April 9, 2020, Schwindt was signed by the Panthers to a three-year, entry-level contract.[3]

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic delayed the commencement of the 2020–21 season, Schwindt ended his junior career and made his professional debut with the Panthers temporary AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Remaining with the Crunch, Schwindt appeared in 10 games registering 2 points.

Approaching the 2021–22 season, Schwindt attended the Panthers training camp before he was reassigned to primary AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, to begin the campaign.[4] While quickly regaining his scoring touch, Schwindt was leading the Checkers in goals before he received his first NHL recall to the injury affected Panthers on December 16, 2021.[5] He was immediately inserted in the Panthers shortened lineup that day and made his NHL debut in a 4–1 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings.[6] He was then returned to continue with the Checkers on December 18, 2021.

On July 22, 2022, Schwindt was included in the blockbuster trade for the Panthers along with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar and a conditional 2025 first-round selection to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2025.[7]

Upon finishing his entry-level contract, Schwindt signed a one-year extension with the Flames.[8] Ahead of the 2024–25 season, however, Schwindt was claimed off waivers by the Vegas Golden Knights on October 7, 2024.[9] On October 11, Schwindt recorded his first NHL point in his Vegas debut, recording an assist on a second-period Shea Theodore goal.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 66 8 10 18 20 6 0 1 1 0
2018–19 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 68 19 30 49 25 4 1 0 1 2
2019–20 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 57 28 43 71 31 — — — — —
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL 10 1 1 2 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Charlotte Checkers AHL 72 19 21 40 21 7 1 2 3 0
2021–22 Florida Panthers NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2022–23 Calgary Wranglers AHL 70 14 18 32 29 8 3 1 4 2
2023–24 Calgary Wranglers AHL 66 14 22 36 31 6 4 1 5 0
2023–24 Calgary Flames NHL 4 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 7 0 0 0 2 — — — — —

References

  1. ^ "Cole Schwindt". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Campbell, Ken (November 26, 2022). "'We know he's watching over us.' How hockey is helping a family of NHL hopefuls heal from tragedy". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "Panthers agree to terms with forward Cole Schwindt". Florida Panthers. April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Panthers trim camp roster, send group to Charlotte". Charlotte Checkers. October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Panthers recall four". Charlotte Checkers. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Kings add to short-handed Panthers woes with 4-1 victory". ESPN. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Panthers acquire Tkachuk from Flames in blockbuster for Huberdeau, Weegar". Calgary Flames. July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Cole Schwindt Contract, Cap Hit, Salary, and Stats". PuckPedia. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Webster, Danny (October 7, 2024). "Knights claim 2 forwards off waivers, but lose 1 themselves". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Williams, Jack (October 12, 2024). "Claimed off waivers, Schwindt makes instant impact with Golden Knights". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 12, 2024.