In explaining his decision, Wheeler noted the opportunity, as a 21-year-old, to choose his preferred NHL team. Wheeler never said so publicly, but the Coyotes’ financial situation most likely played a part in his decision.
In Wheeler’s case, the Coyotes allowed him to walk. Upon the conclusion of the 30-day window, the Bruins won the bidding, signing Wheeler to a two-year contract on July 1, 2008, the first day he could agree to a contract.
While Wheeler was unrestricted in the sense of being able to sign with any team, he remained under the boundaries of the entry-level system. He signed a two-year contract with an $875,000 annual base salary.
Like Wheeler four years ago, Schultz has most of the league interested in his services. The two-way, right-shot defenseman, who will turn 22 July 6, had 16 goals and 28 assists for coach Mike Eaves’s Wisconsin club in 2011-12. He led all collegiate defensemen in scoring.
I understand that adding Schultz adds morw depth and offense, but I don't understand why adding a RD makes the Rangers more likely to deal a LD.
Especially when they need a LD and RD on the PP or two PMD who can rush the puck up the ice on different sides and on different shifts. It's a different look every time and teams need to adjust to that fluid and ever changing offense. i.e. Leetch and Zubov.
Ducks panel with pertinent quotes about Schultz, and the alleged tampering more specifically.
Quote:
Bob Murray: "Justin Schultz will not be an Anaheim Duck, He's informed us that he wishes to explore talks with the 29 other clubs, and that's his right under the current CBA. I cannot comment on the tampering charges at this time but if situations change I will let all of you know."
Ryan Getzlaf: "I've never seen him play or anything but I hear he's pretty good. He better be really good because a lot of players, not just on this team, don't like the way he's handling this situation. We want guys who want to be here and be a part of our team. No one wants to deal with that sh... uh stuff in the locker room." He corrected himself as my 6 year old son approached. Good dad! He also said he's more disappointed that the organization lost a draft pick rather than losing Schultz.
Bruce Boudreau: "I don't know what the heck happened there. We were in Chicago and we still weren't playing great and I talked to the kid straight up and said we could use you right now on the big club. We won't send you to the Crunch, as soon as you're through with Wisconsin we'll get you down there on the ice. The kid looked me right in the eye and said I can't wait coach, it's what I've always wanted. We also told him since we were playing him now it would move him one year closer to making millions of dollars. The kid seemed really excited and it seemed like a done deal when all of a sudden something dramatically changed. Someone got to the kid, it seems. I don't know exactly what happened but there's something fishy in Denmark." (sic)
The way Boudreau's quote is worded makes me think that the tampering allegations is really just a fishing expedition. They can't believe a prospect would rebuke the Ducks' advances and want to pick his team, and the only explanation is a conspiracy.
The way Boudreau's quote is worded makes me think that the tampering allegations is really just a fishing expedition. They can't believe a prospect would rebuke the Ducks' advances and want to pick his team, and the only explanation is a conspiracy.
Or the kid felt cornered when Boudreau said that to him because he already made up his mind that he was going to shop himself around to the rest of the league and said whatever Boudreau wanted to hear instead of starting a confrontation.
I noticed I was following one less person on twitter until I saw Schultz deleted his account. I tweeted him some Rangers and Ryan McDonagh articles/comments. Only positive stuff. Just these.
Quote:
“If there’s something on the coaches’ minds, I want to know about it,” McDonagh said. “I can handle it, and so can every player on our team. The way our coaches don’t let anything slide, I think it’s one of the biggest reasons why you’re seeing so many players develop and why we’ve won our share of games this season.”
A: It’s an unbelievable experience, but I think it’s a unique experience just with the whole city and the way that you travel ... getting to and from the Garden is an experience in itself every day. The way they treat you here — coaching staff and the owners, the way they have meals ready for you, and all the staff at the Garden here, they make coming to the rink and everything so much more enjoyable. ... It’s a place that at this stage of my career I know I never want to leave.
Should the Rangers sign impending Wisconsin free-agent defenseman Justin Schultz (and no one is suggesting they are front-runners, much less a lock), that’s the day Michael Del Zotto eminently would become more of a trade chip.
I've not seen Schultz play, but from a outsiders perspective it will be interesting to see how this play out.
There are of course alot of YT's of a kid like this, and you can see that he is decently skilled and his number is great even for a 21 y/o in college (he is the same age as Del Zotto). More importantly, playing D isn't only about raw ability but also alot more about just getting the job done and being able to work under pressure.
With that said, this kid is definitely not super talented. He is definitely behind a Marek Zidlicky at the same age. Not to mention guys like Erik Karlsson or Ryan Murphy and co. Or Rundblad in PHX.
He would definitely be a great pickup and it would be awsome if he signed here for free. They seem to be doing the right things there in Wisconsin for suer. But the talk about how we will look at Weber if we don't get Schultz or how getting Schultz enables us trading Del Zotto is somewhat freightning. Like, if we got a option to get Weber getting this kid or not shouldn't matter much, neither should it when it comes to trading Del Zotto. Sure, it could have that result 12 month from now if he proves that he can get the job done, but we have not seen that yet.
