March 7, 2025
Nick Nollenberger ((@nicknollen)
It’s been 2162 days since Jimmy Schuldt played in the only NHL game of his career (i.e., a few years, 10 months and 29 days). The Sharks recalled the Pirates’ captain for the first time Sunday after Henry Thrun was placed in an injured reserve. On Thursday in nearly six years, he returned to the NHL, scored 14:15 and lost the AVS, an incredible feat of perseverance and determination.
Barracuda captain Schuldt is in his first season with the Sharks, and his sixth season is a pro. Between the NHL appearances, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound defensive player played 402 AHL games between the regular season and the playoffs.
Schuldt was named head coach John McCarthy’s office after leading the Sharks’ AHL branch San Jose Barracuda, after Sunday’s 6-5 defeat against the Henderson Silver Knights, and gave news that he would join the big club on their East Coast road trip. With little time to process, he could tell his parents in person because they were on the Barracuda Family Weekend in San Jose. After that, he hurried home, packed up a small bag, hugged and kissed his wife and dog, and went out to take a bus to the Toronto flight to Toronto.
“I almost forgot that it was a 3 o’clock game, so when they told me I was going up, it usually means your flight was tomorrow,” Schulte said. “But I was told to go home and an Uber would pick me up. So I basically walked out of the locker room and told my parents – they were excited – they told my wife. I arrived at Toronto Airport at 7:45 a.m. and took Uber, who brought to the hotel, to an hour’s hotel, an hour’s journey with an hour’s rush hour traffic, and then a shower, then a shower.”
On Monday and Tuesday, he watched from the news box, the shark beat Maple Leaf and Saber back to back. It is common for the lineup to remain unchanged after a win, so there is no guarantee that he will fully enter on the road. But on Thursday, in the last game of six of the four national championships, the dream came true again as Ryan Warsofsky offered the veteran pro his second appearance in the NHL game.
Despite the nearly six-year gap between NHL games, his dream of returning has never wavered.
“Sometimes you just think it won’t happen, I won’t take the chance,” Schulte said. “When I was a Cavalier, I wasn’t ready for my first year. I wasn’t ready for my first year yet. I wasn’t ready for my time there, and I wasn’t ready for helping the team, and I learned that it was a very tough sport in my first few years. It was a tough sport at both levels and it was incredible to watch guys every night. Over time, I played a more effective role from more offensive defenders, from a much better-selling role because my best chance was my best choice.
Schuldt, a coveted college free agent in 2019, signed an entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on April 3, 2019, making his NHL debut in Los Angeles against the Kings three days later. In that game, he collected assists for Valentine Zykov’s goal and recorded a team-high 21:03 ice time. Despite his first NHL appearance and driving the Golden Knights out of camp the following season, he won’t be having another game with Las Vegas over the next two years.
He spent a full year in Rochester after signing a one-year contract with Saber in 2021-22, except for a period on the Saber’s Covid taxi fleet. He did not offer the NHL next season, and he signed a one-year AHL contract with Coachella Valley Firebirds in late September. That year, he helped the Firebirds reach Game 7 of the Calder Cup final. Next season, Seattle Kraken signed a one-year NHL contract, but he spent the entire season with Coachella Valley, helping the Firebirds get in touch with the defender finals.
Despite all his success, the call never appeared. Now 29, he still hopes to shoot again.
After graduating from college, he thought the day would be faster. Having said that, he also realized that there are some things that you can’t control.
“Honestly, no,” Schulte said when asked if he thought it would take so long to recover. “But I think about every guy who graduated and got the game thinks the same thing. I think it’s very likely that I’d play more games when I was younger, but it just never happened. The best thing I’ve done over the years is to focus on any team I can win, and I think it’s a good idea because at the end of that day, why do you play that day.
Schuldt is a Minnetonka, Minnesota native and is an outstanding defender at St. Cloud State from 2015 to 2019. He was a three-year captain, a dynamic offensive threat from the college blue line, winning the finalist for Hobey Baker, a senior. But as his career unfolded, he adapted to one of the top closing defenders in the AHL.
Despite his strong career, he has never scored a NHL goal.
When Schulte signed with Sharks this summer, he knew he would play a big role in Barracuda. But he also saw an opportunity to rebuild the organization to win another NHL opportunity. Now that he has won another game, he just appreciates the opportunity.
“I’ve been emitting a lot in my career,” Schuldt said. “So, that’s what I’m very grateful for. It’s cool to take a step back, but at the same time, I just want to do things the right way – working hard during practice, during the morning skating, just trying to be prepared. But I’m glad to have the opportunity to get it, and it gives you a perspective.”
From the moment he joined Barracuda, his professionalism set the tone. He is usually the first to arrive at the rink and the last to leave, and he quickly becomes an easy choice for the captain.
Barracudas head coach John McCarthy called Schuldt an inspiring example of perseverance, determination and professionalism. This is also a great example, if you do things the right way, you will get rewards.
“It’s a great timing because I think he has a really good set of games before he gets on the court, which is easy to point to others,” McCarthy said. “When you do things the right way, you get the reward for the NHL chance.”
Barracuda rookie guard Luca Cagnoni has been Schuldt’s D-partner for much of the season and said the chance to come back is well deserved and overdue.
“He tried to run; he definitely deserved the opportunity,” Kagnoni said. “He is such a leader, the way he controls things on the ice, even when I’m there, talking to me a lot, letting me know where.”
Schulder was assigned back to the Barracuda on Friday, which qualifies him for the Calder Cup playoffs. Whether he has another chance this season with the Sharks, his approach and determination will not waver. But as long as he is in the game, his motivation is to reach the highest level of the sport.
