Report [Speculation] Possibility Of Justin Schultz Signing With Vancouver

[sampy]

Report out of Anaheim is that he will sign with Toronto and Anaheim will file for tampering.

[BoKnows53]

ABTB - Anyone But The Bruins

[Buttock]

Yes ,in Chicago.

We cant afford to let Shultz develop correctly in the NHL if we want to be a contender

[WHL rocks]

Wouldn't playing him in Chicago be developing him correctly, and if not, if playing in the NHL is really the best thing for his development then why wouldn't he get to do it here, as he is surely ahead of Tanev in his development?

[Millerdraft]

I think what ppl are saying is if Shultz signs with Canucks he will play in the minors next year due to our depth, being a contender and all.

If Shultz signs with Oilers he will play and develop with the NHL club next year. This will mean Shultz gets to play in the NHL and earn NHL money rather than play in the minors and earn a fraction of the money.

On top of this he will get a much bigger role with the Oilers than he would with the Canucks, even if he did make the Canucks. He will get PP time and put up more numbers, which would affect the amount of money he gets on his next contract.

Remember the saying follow the money.

[WHL rocks]

If he made the Canucks, don't you think he'd get every opportunity to earn powerplay minutes given his main attribute is offensive skill & the ability to QB a PP? You don't think he'd be putting up bigger numbers getting powerplay time on the NHL's best powerplay unit (with the Art Ross winning Sedins, Edler & Kesler) under Newell Brown's tutelage than under a few sophomore sensations (RNH, Hall & Eberle) under Brent Sutter (or whoever) in Edmonton?

Where would he be more likely to hit NHL max rookie bonuses, on a stacked Canucks team or an Edmonton team going through growing pains?

[Millerdraft]

You might want to add Yakupov to Hall, RNH and Eberle. just kidding, don't know who the Oilers will draft with the 1st overall!!

I think Schultz would get 2nd line PP with the Canucks if he made the Canucks. I doubt AV will give 1st unit PP to a raw rookie when more proven vets are already on the team.

I don't think Schultz would get the same opportunity on the Canucks as he would on a lesser team like the Oilers.

Finally and most importantly Schultz will not make the Canucks as am ofensive specialist. If he's not good enough defensively to take a regular shift he will develop in the minors. On the other hand on the Oilers there is much more leeway to make mistakes and still stick with the big club.

If I put myself in Schultz's shoes I would sign with the Oilers over the Canucks. Grow together with a bunch of young stars and have the freedom to make mistakes and learn the game. Instead of playing a few mins a night if I make the big team I would get to play top 4 mins. If I sign with the Canucks I would most likely spend a year learning the pro game in the minors.

It very hard to make a move from the college game directly to the NHL. Even harder to make a championship calibre team like the Canucks.

[MoneypuckOverlord]

No? We have a gargantuan need for a PP QB on our 1st unit, especially one as adept at carrying the puck up ice as Schultz is (been missing since Ehrhoff left for the money). Vigneault recently threw a guy, that was playing Junior A hockey barely three years ago, into game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals instead of a 5-year veteran defenceman. When Kesler was just turned 22 Vigneault was giving him 16 minutes a game in icetime. This year he had Cody Hodgson slotted in as the #2 centre for the 1st five games of the year and gave him prime offensive zone starts that put him in an optimal position to succeed offensively. Tanev, had he shown any type of shot, would've been up at the start of the year but he's still working on it and even then he is currently a top-six defenceman on this team at the tender age of 22.

Incidentally, how old is Schultz and is he not, by all accounts, a more gifted all around defenceman than Tanev (who, I reiterate, is already playing top-six NHL minutes at age 22)? Didn't Craig Button compare him (Schultz) with Drew Doughty very recently? Again, by all accounts, this player is more NHL ready right now than Jake Gardiner was this year and Gardiner became an "untouchable" in Toronto.

There is a hole that needs to be filled with Salo's impending departure and Schultz could very well fill that hole.

[BoKnows53]

Craig Button went off the board and said, Schultz is a dark horse to make team Canada, that's how far he went. Shultz only has 1 season to prove to Yzerman he can play on team Canada, and even that's not easy.

[WHL rocks]

No? We have a gargantuan need for a PP QB on our 1st unit, especially one as adept at carrying the puck up ice as Schultz is (been missing since Ehrhoff left for the money). Vigneault recently threw a guy, that was playing Junior A hockey barely three years ago, into game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals instead of a 5-year veteran defenceman. When Kesler was just turned 22 Vigneault was giving him 16 minutes a game in icetime. This year he had Cody Hodgson slotted in as the #2 centre for the 1st five games of the year and gave him prime offensive zone starts that put him in an optimal position to succeed offensively. Tanev, had he shown any type of shot, would've been up at the start of the year but he's still working on it and even then he is currently a top-six defenceman on this team at the tender age of 22.

Incidentally, how old is Schultz and is he not, by all accounts, a more gifted all around defenceman than Tanev (who, I reiterate, is already playing top-six NHL minutes at age 22)? Didn't Craig Button compare him (Schultz) with Drew Doughty very recently? Again, by all accounts, this player is more NHL ready right now than Jake Gardiner was this year and Gardiner became an "untouchable" in Toronto.

There is a hole that needs to be filled with Salo's impending departure and Schultz could very well fill that hole.

[Rey]

Craig Button hyped himself by saying that Schultz is like Neidermayer and now the fool has bought into it, and believes Schults IS Neidermayer.

[Rey]

I think Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, Ballard and Gragnani would all get 1st unit PP over a raw rookie from college hockey. If this kid can get to Jake Gardiner's level that would be great but there is no reason to believe that at this point in time. Schultz has not played a single pro game. If ANA had any idea Gardiner would become the player he has become there is no way they trade him to TOR especially if it was to dump Lupuls salary.

[Rey]

I think Schultz would have a challenge in making the Canucks full time. If he does then we could debate whether he gets 1st unit PP or not. If his defensive game is not up to par Schultz will spend a year with the Wolves. If I'm him I don't take that chance. I sign with the Oilers and increase my chances of making the big leagues and earning big league money.

Do you think Schultz would make the top 4 on the Canucks over Hamhuis, Bieksa, Edler , Ballard, Rome , Tanev and Gragnani. I don't. For this reason he won't get top 4 mins in Vancouver. Hence its not in his interest to sign here.

[Boudrias]

People would have said the same thing about Gardiner last year. Just because he has no experience, and nobody knows how good he is in the NHL, you'd assume that he isn't good enough. Facts are that Wisconsin has produced wonderful defense man in the past years. Including: Jamie McBain, Ryan Mcdonagh, Jake Gardiner, Tom Gilbert, Ryan Suter, and the rising Detroit prospect Brendan Smith. Nobody can ignore that.

Regardless. If I'm Mike Gillis. Schultz might have his mind set up elsewhere and it's clear that he seems to know where he is going but You trade for his rights and try to lure him just because he is a BC boy. He'll have days to talk to his friends and family, and at least, the Canucks would have a shot. Who cares about what Schultz thinks. Every team is going to say the same thing and promise ice time and turn on them if they aren't NHL ready. Once he's under contract, you can do anything. I'd toss Gragnani and a 3rd for Schultz without hesitation.

There's too many questions about Schultz that make people speculate. We can assume that he wants to win, but if he wants to win, why the hell would he want to sign with Edmonton or the Leafs? Is he really okay with being a part of a rebuild that could last for years and ultimately fail? Why wouldn't he pick a team that can win now? If he has the confidence to demand ice time, shouldn't he have the confidence to be a NHL defender on any team? If he's willing to go to Edmonton or Toronto, he's clearly wants to go to a hockey market. Why else would he not sign with Anaheim? Everything points to - Hey Vancouver, you might be able to do something. I don't get why people are against it. He sure as hell isn't Ryan Suter, but we all know that Suter won't sign with Vancouver. There's just no connections to Suter at all.

It'll be interesting to see what happens, and we'll know more about the guy's character when he signs to his team of choice, which IMO is the best part.

[Trelane42]

It complicates things that no one, save Anaheim, can sign him until July 1st. Means you may wan't to hold off on D transactions cuz if I'm him, all I'm doing till then is watching the depth chart of signed D men playing right side for the clubs on my list.

By that score Van looks pretty appealing--at the moment--with only BXA firmly entrenched at top. Tanev has shown zero offensive acumen and his total lack of physical play limits his ability, in my opinion, to climb that depth chart. You have to bring a little more than just sound judgment and a decent first pass, like, say, put up (some) points or show some muscle and clear the net once in a while if you hope to make top 4. Not saying Schultz would be better right away but the possibility is there within a 1-2 year frame.

I also don't think MG plans to bring Salo back, hence the 1 year deal, leaving just the Lou trade which, depending on the return, may muddy things up a bit from Schultz's perspective, if he's interested.

[Millerdraft]

Do you think Schultz would make the top 4 on the Canucks over Hamhuis, Bieksa, Edler, Ballard, Rome , Tanev and Gragnani. I don't. For this reason he won't get top 4 mins in Vancouver. Hence its not in his interest to sign here.

[Boudrias]

You listed 7 defencemen on the Canucks depth chart & only two play on the right side (Bieksa & Tanev). Of the bolded players I'd say no, he has no chance. Of the latter four, one is an UFA who may not even be re-signed (incidentally the only LH that has shown any inkling of being able to play the right side) and another may find himself traded or even waived to create cap room if Gillis gets stuck with $8.5m tied up in net this fall. The only defencemen that has even a remotely similar skillset to Schultz is Gragnani and, again, by all accounts Schultz sounds light years ahead in terms of his defensive game.

You yourself may be inclined to sign in Edmonton if you were Schultz because you are looking at $925,000 in pay today and large minutes on a non-playoff team; whereas, if I am Schultz, I'm looking at the impact that feeding transition passes to the league's #1 offensive team for the last two years is gonna make my 2nd contract twice the size of what Edmonton's diminutive forward core will land me in two years and if I outperform some similar players as myself in camp, I have a much better chance at hitting my bonuses feeding passes to the twins.

If I'm Schultz, I gotta feel confident that I can outperform Tanev in camp and the fact that Tanev was playing with Edler post deadline, and the fact that he started the playoffs as the Canucks' top pairing shutdown Dman beside Hamhuis, has me hopeful my skillset (PP QB) will be given every opportunity to flourish even in a prominent role (provided I prove that I can execute what is asked of me).

[Boudrias]

As soon as Suter signs with Detroit the gates will open. While still contracted with Nashville for another season Weber probably won't stay if Suter moves on. The bidding war for Weber will be brutal and I question how much MG should pay out to get him. Counting down on 30!

[crazyforhockey]

talked with his dad today (schultz's)

he mentioned that Schultz hasnt decided anything yet.....he is very excited to have a once in a lifetime opportunity to decide where to go......

sounds like they will narrow it down to 4 or 5 teams in a week or two...(with agent)

he mentioned there re a few players he has played with gardnier......mcdonagh and stephan ....c smith in nashville

I mentioned he could cmome to Van and he said van defence looks stacked... ie will be hard to break.

and i said not necsarlly.. and his intrest piqued(the dad) salo may or may not play or would come back as our 3rd pairing with gms off.

ballard may be traded???..and I said you cant dismiss a pmd talent like schultz from moving up the ladder.

so for MG it would be (depending on mg's direction of where he wants the defence core to go)..to go out and convince schultz that he has a solid chance of making the team and you would be playing on a top contending team.

i did gather hes intrested in playing in the nhl on a more reg basis

it could be a team like tor or nyr(do to friends/opportunities or even Det if Lidstrom is retiring.

[RunningWild]

http://ducks.ocregister.com/2012/06/01/hope-fading-fast-for-ducks-to-land-schultz/111148/

Quick read, although not a whole lot of new info. from this Ducks blogger. He seems to think the Canucks will be going after Schultz (which prob isn't much of a surprise):

Vancouver is believed to be hot for Schultz and the Canucks could be a natural fit given he’s from British Columbia. The Canucks are deep on defense but could open a spot if they cut ties with longtime rearguard Sami Salo, an impending UFA who’ll be 38 in September.