[Edmonton Journal] Canucks won't guarantee Justin Schultz playing time

[jonnycanuck46]

Hey y'all,

Found this after reading the Edmonton Journal this morning. This could be cause for concern. Essentially, the Canucks management has been asked whether or not they would guarantee J.S. a full time position. The team (as usual) simply said "no." this to me is foolishness by the team. The terms should be dictated to Schultz long after he's signed the dotted line.

For goodness sakes, the team should be kissing his feet until he's signed on.

http://blogs.edmonto...justin-schultz/

With the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers typically seen as the most likely destinations for free agent defenseman Justin Schultz, the Oilers may have just got a leg up on their Western rivals. It seems the Vancouver Canucks are not interested in offering guaranteed playing time to highly sought after free agent. From Canucks writer Jason Botchford:

Botchford also points out that Schultz’s cap hit is likely to be somewhat problematic for Vancouver. While Schultz’s contract is capped by the NHL’s entry-level system, he is expected to get the rookie maximum – a figure which includes a significant amount of performance bonuses, bonuses that count against the salary cap.

With an estimated hit just south of $4.0 million per season, a team close to the salary cap – like the Vancouver Canucks – will have more difficulty fitting Schultz in than the Oilers would.

If it comes down to which team Schultz likes best, Vancouver will probably land his services. Schultz is from Kelowna, and the Canucks are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Those are two major points in Vancouver’s favour.

If, on the other hand, it comes down to where Schultz will have the best chance to make an impact immediately, there’s no question that Edmonton has a lot to offer. There’s easily room in the top four at even-strength for a defenseman of Schultz’s calibre, and with Tom Renney gone there would seem to be little to stop Schultz from supplanting Corey Potter on the team’s top power play unit.

Schultz would immediately be an integral part of the team, and his efforts would matter in Edmonton in a way that they simply wouldn’t in Vancouver.

In making their pitch, Vancouver could have guaranteed Schultz top-four work immediately; they could have said that Sami Salo would anchor the third pairing and that Schultz would get a chance to play a key role on a contending team.

The fact that they’re going the other direction may have some appeal too – Schultz won’t be rushed into anything, won’t be pressured to perform right away, etc. – but more likely it’s going to be a negative rather than a positive.

This is especially true given that Vancouver has defensive depth – players like Chris Tanev – who could easily leapfrog Schultz on the depth chart if he stumbles out of the gate. Ten bad games on a team with serious Stanley Cup aspirations could drop Schultz down the lineup awfully fast.

In Edmonton, there simply isn’t such a threat. The team’s anemic blue-line, long a huge weakness, actually serves them well in these negotiations, as does the fact that they’re in the middle of a rebuilding process.

Edmonton has incentive to stick with youth – particularly on the blue line – even when there are bumps in the road. Schultz doesn’t really need to worry that Taylor Chorney is going to come and steal his job. He’ll be given every opportunity to find his legs and make a difference.

Will it be enough? We’ll know by Sunday.

[goalie13]

The terms should be dictated to Schultz long after he's signed the dotted line.

For goodness sakes, the team should be kissing his feet until he's signed on.

[Blood Fiend]

Use the Search feature.

[Smashian Kassian]

His cap hit shouldnt be an issue, but yikes.

Our hopes of signing this guy may have been dealt a huge blow. Damn.

They better guarentee him a roster spot, or else I guess they dont see the value in this guy, and if not I'm sure they will see the value when Edmonton's already sick powerplay, gets that much better and make our PK look like garbage.

[jonnycanuck46]

Use the Search feature.

[Lotsofloveforcody]

Gillis wants character and this will show a lot of character if the kid wants to battle for his icetime. If not, maybe he doesnt fit the group of players we have as much as I want him to.

[clarkkent]

Bah - its all guess work. No one really knows what any of the teams have promised. Gillis is a smart dude. He's been a player, and agent, and now a GM. he knows what to say and how to say it. All you have to do is look at the contracts guys have signed to stay in Vancouver. These were players without pre-existing relationships with MG and yet he still managed to gain their trust and often sign for less than they would have got on the open market. I'd actually expect the offers from all the teams will be very similar. It will simply come down to what Shultz values and why.

[Trebreh]

If Edmonton brought their tourism video they showed Hall, then were screwed lol.

[GuzzIer]

Clint Eastwood approves

[Drive-By Body Pierce]

Holy propaganda! LOL! They just know they are not the preferred location.

[rkyway]

The more I hear about Schultz the less I like him.

[Monty085]

Oilers had the upper hand anyways, lots more inscentive for him to want to play there

[Ewok]

Gillis is a moron.

[Burnsey]

I think for Schultz, his best option is Edmonton or Toronto. He will be among players like him - making their first step in the NHL and hoping to be part of something special in the future.

If he wants a decent chance at the cup in his first few years in the NHL regardless of how much ice time he gets, Vancouver would be his best option with the Rangers being the only other realistic option (based on his choices that have been reported).

At the end of the day if he wants to get top ice time then he has to earn it. I still find it a little weird and somewhat ridiculous that he could get up to $4M (cap hit) when he has yet to play a NHL game. Hopefully he becomes good and is worth the money, and hopefully he has a good character.

[Systemaddict]

If a player doesn't like when a Stanley Cup contending team tells him he'll have to play well to ensure his spot on the team - then why do we care about him? That type of attitude can be cancerous and disruptive -- The Canucks will have a window and opportunity to challenge for the cup regardless of him.

It'd be sweet to have a player with his skillset - but in no way would I be disappointed in Gillis or the Canucks for telling him he has to work hard to get a spot.

[NightHawkSniper]

You guys notice where this article is from? IT'S ALL LIES!

[babych]

Gillis is a moron.

[jigsaw99]

Screw the Edmonton Oil Tankers/Coilers

[avelanch]

this was already in the massive schultz thread.

[UFCanuck]

A day late.