Schmidt will be held out of the lineup Friday against the Blackhawks, Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Washingtonreports.

EDGE Analysis

Head coach Barry Trotz has decided to sit Schmidt to give defenseman Taylor Chorney some playing time and not due to any injury or dissatisfaction. With four assists in 12 games, the Minnesotan is on pace to best the 16 points he recorded in 2015-16, but his lack of power-play time limits his value to the deepest of leagues.