Justin Schultz

[jonlleafs]

Physically maybe he might be NHL ready but you can't really say for certain.  He's been playing at a much lower level than the NHL.  The pace of a college game is much slower with less talented guys.  So for people to make that statement seems out of left field to me.  Until he suits up in a real NHL game, you can't really say he's NHL ready.

You can't say for sure, no, but every year guys get drafted on the basis of being "NHL ready" and it typically seems as though scouts do a good job at making that determination. Landeskog, for instance, was called the most NHL ready prospect in the draft and he was a very good NHL player the following year.

For a 22 year old, I figure that read gets a little bit easier as you have a better sense of his physical maturity.

Fair enough.  If we sign him, I hope the scouts are more right then wrong.

 

[Omallley]

What would be his status after the inevitable 2 year contract he signs expires?  UFA or RFA?

He'd be RFA.

 

[Jalili]

The logical pick certainly seems to be vancouver, with toronto as the other front runner.

But lets hope he takes the sentimental stuff very seriously and goes with toronto.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

My ideal top 6 would probably be like this:

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Franson - Gardiner
Liles - Schultz/Komi
Holzer/Komi

Only gripe I have about trading Schenn and adding Schultz is that we are less gritty in the backend now.  This is a reason why I'd want to keep Komisarek around if he can find his game again.

Just to note, Schultz and Franson play the right side, Gunarsson and Gardiner the left side. Holzer played the right side in the AHL as well.  So if this signing happens, Burke has a log-jam on the right side. I think he's going to trade Franson, 100% sure he will if he signs Schultz.

The depth chart with no trades or signings would be:

Gunarsson / Phaneuf
Gardiner / Schultz
Liles / Komi
--- Franson
--- Holzer

The backlog on the right side is substantial.

I'm coming at this completely ignorant of Schultz other than he's this year's Matt Gilroy

He's not really though.  Gilroy was completely undrafted, and didn't sign with an NHL team until he was 25.  Schultz is a drafted player who is still just 22 and whose stock has risen since his draft.

 

[LeafsInSeven]

I know he played with Gardiner but a team with Gardiner, Liles, Phaneuf, Gunnarsson and eventually Rielly as well as other possible young defenders like Holzer, Blacker and Granberg isn't the most enticing destination if you're looking to be an NHL regular soon.  I can't believe that the Leafs are a front runner for his services but hope to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[jonlleafs]

Here are some highlights. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgTuzuOf1t8

While he does score some goals, I'm so-so impressed.  You can see the pace is much slower and most of the wrist shot goals he gets close to the blueline would not go in on an NHL goalie not named Toskala or Gustavsson.  So, while I'd be intrigued to sign him, I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't.

If anything, I'm more impressed with Gardiner's abilities than Schultz at this point in time.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

It's not like the teams/scouts raving about him are basing it off of a youtube video.

They've probably watched at least 2 of the related Schultz videos.

 

[jonlleafs]

It's not like the teams/scouts raving about him are basing it off of a youtube video.

They've probably watched at least 2 of the related Schultz videos.

Hey, I watched a total of 2 videos and that is enough to judge him as a dud. 

 

[bustaheims]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Justin Schultz is wrapping up two days of meetings between himself and his agents in Toronto. He has NOT met or talked to any NHL teams yet.

TSNBobMcKenzie: The UFA defenceman and his agents will over the next two days meet in Toronto with a small group of teams he has on his shortlist.

TSNBobMcKenzie: Once Schultz hears from interested teams on shortlist, he'll choose one but there's no telling when that may be. Saturday? Maybe later.

TSNBobMcKenzie: I expect the Schultz camp and teams involved to be ultra tight lipped about the process. Cone of silence appears to be down for now.

TSNBobMcKenzie: My best guess is there are no more 5 teams on Schultz's shortlist. VAN (Gillis, Gilman, Vigneault) have been in TOR awaiting word.

TSNBobMcKenzie: EDM group that includes Kevin Lowe/Craig MacTavish have also been in TOR for same reason. Teams on shortlist will no doubt show in T.O. too.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Most people in the know that I've heard speak about him talk about his all-world first pass and skating abilities, these are generally the types of things that can translate really well to the pro game. He will need to learn the physical aspect and when he can and can't get his point shot through in the NHL, much like Gardiner.

It'll be his ability to deal with the physical aspect of the game that will or will not see him in the NHL this year, I believe.

 

[slapshot]

I know he played with Gardiner but a team with Gardiner, Liles, Phaneuf, Gunnarsson and eventually Rielly as well as other possible young defenders ... isn't the most enticing destination if you're looking to be an NHL regular soon. 

It's another asset in the bank, at low costs, and provides more options. Maybe Gardiner moves up to first line minutes with Phaneuf. Gunner is the steadying influence with Schultz and Franson gets paired with Liles. Just speculation, of course, but I could live with that to see where it takes us.

 

[Kin]

It's another asset in the bank, at low costs, and provides more options. Maybe Gardiner moves up to first line minutes with Phaneuf. Gunner is the steadying influence with Schultz and Franson gets paired with Liles. Just speculation, of course, but I could live with that to see where it takes us.

I think the point being made there is that Schultz wouldn't want to come here, not that the Leafs wouldn't want him.

And it's been said elsewhere but a top 2 of Phaneuf-Gardiner would be terrible defensively.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Ted Kulfan ‏@tkulfan

Red Wings officially out of of the D Justin Schultz sweepstakes

(Wings beat writer)

 

[Omallley]

My ideal top 6 would probably be like this:

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Franson - Gardiner
Liles - Schultz/Komi
Holzer/Komi

Only gripe I have about trading Schenn and adding Schultz is that we are less gritty in the backend now.  This is a reason why I'd want to keep Komisarek around if he can find his game again.

Just to note, Schultz and Franson play the right side, Gunarsson and Gardiner the left side. Holzer played the right side in the AHL as well.  So if this signing happens, Burke has a log-jam on the right side. I think he's going to trade Franson, 100% sure he will if he signs Schultz.

The depth chart with no trades or signings would be:

Gunarsson / Phaneuf
Gardiner / Schultz
Liles / Komi
--- Franson
--- Holzer

The backlog on the right side is substantial.

I'm coming at this completely ignorant of Schultz other than he's this year's Matt Gilroy

He's not really though.  Gilroy was completely undrafted, and didn't sign with an NHL team until he was 25.  Schultz is a drafted player who is still just 22 and whose stock has risen since his draft.

Yeah, I know. I meant it in a top-college-free-agent sense - the Gilroy comparison isn't exactly fair.

 

[cw]

I know he played with Gardiner but a team with Gardiner, Liles, Phaneuf, Gunnarsson and eventually Rielly as well as other possible young defenders ... isn't the most enticing destination if you're looking to be an NHL regular soon. 

It's another asset in the bank, at low costs, and provides more options. Maybe Gardiner moves up to first line minutes with Phaneuf. Gunner is the steadying influence with Schultz and Franson gets paired with Liles. Just speculation, of course, but I could live with that to see where it takes us.

Or maybe one of those guys gets traded for something else we need. In that way, it's like finding a wallet!!! (bet you never heard that one before ... ;D)

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, I know. I meant it in a top-college-free-agent sense - the Gilroy comparison isn't exactly fair.

He's closer to being Blake Wheeler - defenceman edition.

 

[ZBBM]

It's another asset in the bank, at low costs, and provides more options. Maybe Gardiner moves up to first line minutes with Phaneuf. Gunner is the steadying influence with Schultz and Franson gets paired with Liles. Just speculation, of course, but I could live with that to see where it takes us.

I think the point being made there is that Schultz wouldn't want to come here, not that the Leafs wouldn't want him.

And it's been said elsewhere but a top 2 of Phaneuf-Gardiner would be terrible defensively.

Well, this is the problem.  If Komisarek continues to flounder, who'll actually play defense-first defense?  The whole thing is out of whack.

 

[Screwball]

Friedman mentioned the following: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/06/time-to-free-up-nhl-free-agency-30-thoughts.html

Since we mentioned him above, let's start with Schultz. Neither the Maple Leafs, the Ducks nor his agency (Newport) would discuss it, but heard Anaheim allowed Toronto a window to try and sign him at the draft. (There would have been some draft-pick compensation in return.) He wants to test free-agency -- who can blame him? -- and passed. It is believed he is meeting with his agents today to discuss a shorter list of teams and is to begin discussions with that group Wednesday.

 

[Zee]

Friedman mentioned the following: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/06/time-to-free-up-nhl-free-agency-30-thoughts.html

Since we mentioned him above, let's start with Schultz. Neither the Maple Leafs, the Ducks nor his agency (Newport) would discuss it, but heard Anaheim allowed Toronto a window to try and sign him at the draft. (There would have been some draft-pick compensation in return.) He wants to test free-agency -- who can blame him? -- and passed. It is believed he is meeting with his agents today to discuss a shorter list of teams and is to begin discussions with that group Wednesday.

That's not good if true. He had a chance to already sign with the Leafs and passed.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Friedman mentioned the following: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/06/time-to-free-up-nhl-free-agency-30-thoughts.html

Since we mentioned him above, let's start with Schultz. Neither the Maple Leafs, the Ducks nor his agency (Newport) would discuss it, but heard Anaheim allowed Toronto a window to try and sign him at the draft. (There would have been some draft-pick compensation in return.) He wants to test free-agency -- who can blame him? -- and passed. It is believed he is meeting with his agents today to discuss a shorter list of teams and is to begin discussions with that group Wednesday.

That's not good if true. He had a chance to already sign with the Leafs and passed.

Well the whole point of him leaving college and not signing with Anaheim was to test the FA market right?  Wouldn't make sense for him to do that just to sign with the Leafs before even listening to other offers.