Wild notes: Ex-Gopher Nate Schmidt brings energy, personality to Capitals

WASHINGTON – If you know the bubbly personality of St. Cloud native and former Gophers motormouth Nate Schmidt, you won't be shocked that the Washington Capitals defenseman is featured periodically on a CSN Mid-Atlantic bit called the "Schminute."

The TV network hands Schmidt a mike and just has him riff on a subject. He has talked about his vacation to Cancun, "Family Feud" and teammate clothing.

"He brings an enormous amount of energy, which I think is contagious," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "He always has a smile on his face, he can talk a million miles an hour and he enjoys what he does. He's a dynamic skater, he's taken full advantage of the opportunity that's been presented his way. He's one of the favorite guys on the team and very, very useful."

In 2013 when Schmidt finished a terrific senior season at the University of Minnesota, the undrafted player was bombarded with contract offers by several teams. He chose Washington because he saw an opportunity to actually make it to the NHL and succeed, which can be difficult for undrafted free agents.

"I went to development camp and they were very familiar with me and I had good relationships with a couple of their scouts," Schmidt said. "They were really up front with me: 'If you continue to progress, there's nothing guaranteed in this game, but this is where we project you to be in a couple years.' Lo and behold, they were right."

A defense partner with John Carlson, Schmidt has 14 points and is plus-14 in 55 games after Friday's 3-2 victory over his hometown Wild.

"He's really helped me along and tries to get us both up ice and keep my feet moving all the time and just moving pucks," Schmidt said. "We have a lot of really talented forwards, so just get them the puck and they'll make things happen for us."

Torchetti didn't seem worried, but Dubnyk has struggled lately.

Since the All-Star break, Dubnyk is 3-6 with a 3.12 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. He has had two games with fewer than three goals against in those nine games. In the previous six games, Dubnyk was 1-4-1 but with a 1.67 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. He gave up fewer than three goals in five of those six games.

• Depth center Zac Dalpe has had a nightmarish season. His mother died in training camp, then one game into Iowa's season, he suffered a hip injury that required surgery. He was supposed to miss five months but returned in four.

But in his fourth game — one game after scoring two goals — Dalpe injured a knee and will miss a month.

"Poor guy worked hard and came back probably a month ahead of schedule," Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said. "He showed tremendous drive and determination to get back and then just a freaky accident, I guess, and he's out again."