This is Justin Schultz. In terms of adding a possible free agent for the Oilers this off-season, there are many things that make him an ideal target for the team.
So far during our look at solutions to the Oilers blue, we’ve concentrated on UFA’s, RFA’s and possible trade partners. In this case, we’re looking at a young man who may be about to use a loophole in the system to gain free agency before his first pro game.
I’m not going to go too far into the technicality that allows UFA status, but the current CBA says a player like Schultz can in fact inform his school (Wisconsin) he’s leaving, wait until summer when the option becomes available, and then sign a contract with one of the 30 available NHL teams.
There are limits on the dollars that can be spent for this player, so there’s nothing terribly unique about Edmonton’s offer in the form of cash. They do have an interesting opportunity for the young man, expressed well by Bob McKenzie last night in the NHL on tsn quiz. The question was:
Who is most likely to sign unrestricted free agent defenceman & blue-chip prospect Justin Schultz of Wisconsin?
McKenzie: I‘ll say the Edmonton Oilers because I think this Kelowna kid would be happy to play in Canada. I also think it would be great for him to grow old with guys like Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall and he’s the missing piece of the puzzle in Edmonton: power play quarterback.
Schultz is being described as one of the best prospects in the game, and his scouting report suggests a wide range of skills including size and speed. His Desjardins NHLE–the number implied by his current NCAA season if placed into the NHL–is 82, 15-25-40. In other words, he’d be at the front of the line offensively for the Oiler group (I’d also include Whitney and Petry as players who could hit 40 points from the current roster).
SOMETHING FROM THE PAST
This recalls the old Oilers, the Sather Oilers. They pulled more good defensemen out of nowhere than Carter has liver pills. In fact, the golden era of Oiler hockey featured some guys who didn’t hit the big time on their draft day:
THE FIRST STANLEY TEAM’S BLUE (1984)
- Paul Coffey, taken 6th overall in 1980
- Kevin Lowe, taken 21st overall in 1979
- Charlie Huddy, signed as a free agent in 1979 after passing through undrafted
- Randy Gregg, signed October 1982 at age 26 after two years in Japan. Never drafted.
- Lee Fogolin, acquired from Buffalo at the expansion draft.
- Don Jackson, acquired in a hockey deal for Donny Murdoch.
So the Oilers got healthy in a hurry, by using the draft and several other avenues to acquire talent. Schultz would fall into the "Randy Gregg" or "Charlie Huddy" category in that he’ll be available to all NHL teams.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Could mean nothing. The other 29 teams have a story to tell and Edmonton’s future–while bright–is in the distance. A team like Pittsburgh, or Boston, or Vancouver could offer this player a chance to start in the penthouse and that’ has some appeal.
Still, there’s a chance and I’m sure the Oilers are preparing for the opportunity. There might also be some back room wheeling and dealing, whereby Edmonton sends an asset (pick or prospect) to Anaheim for the right to talk to this young man before everyone else gets a chance.
It’s risky, and a little daring. Sounds like something Glen Sather might have done 30 years ago.
Previously in the series:
Would be nice to get a top flight defencemen without having to spend a FIST pick on him.
props oilfan
One Schultz is good, two are better. It’s a no brainer IMO.
Now I’m going to be dissapointed if Schultz does anything but sign here.
Do it up Tambellini.
Can the Oilers offer other perks other than just the cash? (Besides the obvious Hall, RNH, Eberle reasons he should come here?)
I’d be VERY impressed with Tambellini if he could pull this off. I’m not a fan of Tambellini.
If it is risky and daring then I suspect it is well out of Tambo’s field of vision.
I suppose the other benefit of signing with Edmonton is that he knows he’ll hold a decent slot in the depth chart – a place he might not have if he signs with a “penthouse team.” I’m no sports psychologist, but you have to imagine that the prospect of ice time has got to be high on the priority list (I dare say higher than playing on a good team).
It seems to me that the problem – blue chip prospect and NHLEs be damned – is that it’s a bit of a gamble on whether his talents will carry over against NHL opposition. Cam Barker was a blue chip prospect too at one point in time.
I’m, not against signing him by any means, he’s just less of a guarantee than some of the other names on your list.
What does Steve Yzerman think of him?
It’s almost too good to be true. I’ve been conditioned to believe it wont happen but the annual off-season of Hope might be starting a little early for me this year.
Schultz is a unique opportunity if the Oilers fail to land an experienced No.1 guy for the back end. If Edmonton falls out of the top 4 in Junes entry draft they could end up with two possible kids who may grow into that position. Schultz is a good plan B option. He’s a better opportunity compared to the others paraded by on ON the last few weeks.
I love that he has a salary cap attached to the situation. No team can outbid another.
Then again, if i am a 21 year old stud and the sunny beaches of LA come calling…ya… that is where i go, date numerous smoking hot starlets, surf as my summer training, get an awesome tan while watching hot girls in bikinis do yoga on the beach and start a coke habit. In Edmonton, the only thing he could do is start the coke habit. Hm.
Let’s not downplay the allure of the booger sugar. Besides yayo, E-town is an attractive place to play because the summers are long, gas prices are low, and you can take the LRT to work!
That should be the cover page of the pitch to Schultz – the LRT!
He has until July 1st to sign in sunny Anaheim. It sounds like that is exactly what he does not want to do if McKenzie is saying the Oilers are a front runner to sign him, not Anaheim.
Does anyone have any sense why he hasn’t signed with Anaheim? Is it just to wait out for this UFA time. I’m assuming there are “back-channel” ways to see how interested he would be in signing here without tampering.
The one article I saw on him mentioned he might be waiting out the CBA before leaving school. At this point would staying one more year in NCAA potentially stunt his development, versus playing in the AHL in case there is a lockout.
If a third round draft pick can get the rights to sign him before this year’s draft that seems like a reasonable gamble.
Word is he wants a one way deal. Anaheim isn’t prepared to give him that just yet. The Oilers could offer him that though. We’re a year or two from even making the playoffs.
No one can offer him a one way deal, he’s too young and would fall under the ELC system.
As a UFA, he’d have far fewer restrictions though wouldn’t he? That loophole may wipe out that whole ELC thing. I could be wrong again.
Yep, ELC’s are automatically 2-way with really limited compensation in the AHL ($70,000 max), so the depth of the team will be important for him if he wants to play in the NHL. Thank goodness the Oilers have the least depth of any NHL team out there.
The career allure of Edmonton has to be a strong incentive – playing on one of the top PP’s in the league is going to help out a lot in a guys next contract.
Do you think any of the negativity surrounding our office staff would impact his choice if in fact we were one of his top picks?
Well, that negativity exists here at ON and Sheldon Souray doesn’t like them, but I don’t know if that is a universal feeling across the league.
In one article (or interview) it was said that his priority was to sign with a team where he could play in a starting rotation right away.
That may be all the allure he needs.
His hometown (Westbank) is my hometown. Would be really cool to have him be an Oiler.
What speeds said: no team can offer Schultz anything but an ELC (which is a two-way deal). Anyway, rumour has it Anaheim offered to put him in the NHL immediately. And no team can offer any significant difference in money.
It’s entirely based on where he wants to play.
It would be nice to land him (I think) – BUT – Anaheim did draft him. What’s the honorable thing for him to do? Hate to have the reverse happen to the Oilers.
The same thing may happen to the Oilers with Kyle Bigos next year. If Bigos decides to go back to college for another year he will be a UFA next summer.
Bigos is not a high-end top prospect while Schultz is. There’s a big difference.
I wasn’t comparing the 2 as prospects, just the fact that the Oilers could lose a prospect in a similar fashion. Bigos does sound like he might be a useful player though. By most reports he’s big, mean and mobile.
It’s just one of things that happens. Can’t exactly sit on your hands when 28 other GM’s will be making offers.
You are correct. Mr Tambillini will not be sitting on his hands. He has been evaluiating Justin for years and feels that he will be able to have a very good feel for this prospect once he complete his senior year.
Two J. Shultzs? That would put us over the top next year.
Teams have successfully lured free agents using current team members to convince the target to sign. It was a call from Iginla, a fellow Edmontonian and team captain, that helped convince Bouwmeester to sign in Calgary.
In this case, I don’t think it should be Horc that calls Schultz. Let the kids talk to him. This is the group that he will grow with. If he feels that this is a group of guys he’d like to spend the next 5-6 years with, that will put the Oilers at the top of the list. Hall, Eberle, RNH and I also think Petry should talk to him. Petry went the college path and can atest to what they’re building here and the opportunity to grow your own game in this environment.
As long as they don’t ask Tikkanen to call him.
Maybe he’ll be so confused by Tikk-talk that he’ll just go ahead and sign on the dotted line.
Play by play nighmare?
Smid-Petry
Schultz-Schultz
Taylor Fedun – Fedor Tyutin
Plus 3 Ryans up front.
and now the nicknames
Smids – Pets
Schultzy – Schultzy
Feds – Feds
Seriously, the league should import some nickname developers from the 1940s when people had nickames like ‘Crusher’.
I bet that Tikkanen could do that play by play!
*considers propping himself for using Tikkanen in two posts on one thread*
No consideration required – that’s an AUTOMATIC!
Bob McK says the Oilers are missing a PP QB? I thought Petry was doing quite well in that role lately.
Possible Oilers pitch to Schultz: Our defense is so bad, you’re guaranteed lots of minutes.
Topic needs more Sgt. Shultz resets.
@Lowetide and Oilers Nation
Does anyone know what the maximum salary he can be signed for is?
Seems like an interesting prospect, and if tiny face (McKenzie) is saying it’s a distinct possibility it probably has legs.
One more Schultz and one more Ryan (Murray) and the roster will be near completion. Still missing that #1 goalie and top 6 size, but maybe Dubby can make that his next season.
an explanation is here
http://capgeek.com/faq/how-do-entry-level-contracts-work.php
Thanks for the link.
So is it possible he gets an entry level contract similar to RNH where the cap hit is $3.775 million? Or am I missing something?
If he has to sign an entry level deal, I’d say it’s quite possible that ice time would be a major factor in where he signs considering he would make about 90% less (or more) if he’s in the AHL.
Great article btw.
Is he so good he is seen as the other top-4 we’re missing? That seems a little optimistic to me. I would still try hard to sign him, I just hope that’s in addition to, not instead of tracking down one more proven NHL vet.
If we should get them both, Sutton will become number 7, not 6, and Peckham and Potter will be farm hands or, more likely in Theo’s case, playing somewhere else.
Everyone seems to think he’s the most solid prospect playing college hockey, so hopefully he can at least slot into the top 6 and work his way up (if we end up signing him).
Sure would be nice to know if we could sign him BEFORE the draft. Do we still go for Murray/Dumba/other defensive stud if we get Schultz? I would think that Schultz would take Murray’s spot and that we have enough goodies on the shelf (Kelfbomb…etc.) that maybe Murray wouldn’t be the most effective pick.
I worry that we are running low on quality farm forwards. Draft a forward with our high pick, then draft a D. No?
Unfortunately, the draft is first.
According to this article, he’s a UFA on June 1st (before the draft).
http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/03/29/tsns-bob-mckenzie-thinks-justin-schultz-could-sign-with-the-edmonton-oilers/
And into the black.
This is the best entry yet. Schultz is legitimately available, and he is a right handed shot which we desperately need. We were apparently interested in Hartnell when Nashville shipped his rights to Philly before he was available so we should definitely stay in the loop and it would be nice to get a chance to speak to him before the other suitors. This would be a nice get IMO.
Want!
By the sounds of it he could be better than whats at the draft for defense. If we got him we could draft grigorenko(or yakupov if hes available). Grigorenko can be jordan staal for us. A big skilled center as depth would be a major asset for this team. If we were to sign penner (or if hartikainen is our guy), it would allow us to throw different looks at other teams by adding size to our top 6. Games like dallas where our stars are physically targeted, we could Shuffle the lines to put big boys with the kids. The big guys dont have to fight. They just have to be like penner, play through the physicallity, and create space for the skilled guys. If we could also aquire another top 4 dman (garrison), we could play defense by commitee. A journeyman goaltender or better would also be helpful. Just signing justin shultz could be a huge move fir the franchise as it opens so many options. I would like the deprh chart to look like this next year (i believe its playoff calibre):
Hall rnh eberle
MPS gagner hemsky
Penner grigorenko smyth
Hartikainen horkoff jones
Eager belanger petrell
Smid garrison/or whoever
Shultz petry
Sutton j. Shultz
Peckham potter
Tuebert klefbom
The rest of the young uns
Vokoun(or whoever)
Dubnyk
Khabibulin
Shoot i for got whitney i knew something looked off.
Smid garrison
Whitney petry
Shultz jshultz
Sutton peckham
Potter tuebert
Klefbom and the rest
“Sounds like something Glen Sather might have done 30 years ago.”
Classic. Agree completely.
Kudos, LT.