Wings Will Be Going After Schultz
The Wings already got one coveted, rookie free agent and now they offically have thrown their hat in the ring for the other, Justin Schultz. "We've contacted his agents to express the Detroit Red Wings are interested in signing him to a contract," general manager Ken Holland told MLive.com. "We think there's a tremendous opportunity in Detroit."
For those who recently woke up from a coma, Schultz was a Ducks draft pick but was never signed by Anaheim and becomes a free agent this July 1st. He played his college hockey at Wisconsin (playing one year with Brendan Smith) and plain out dominated, finishing second on the team in points with 44 in 37 games. As a rookie, all teams can only offer him the same amount, but what he's looking for is playing time. And suprisingly, Detroit is going to offer him that:Opportunity, not money, will be the deciding factor in securing Schultz. The Red Wings are prepared to guarantee him a roster spot at the start of the season, something every team that pursues him will need to do.
Sounds very un-Red Wing like, but this is for good reason. Hit the jump for more analysis on how he fits with Detroit, and video.Here's what people smarter than I are saying:
The word that’s often used when describing Schultz is “poise.” He’s the type of defenseman that can control the pace of the game and is cool under pressure. His skating is excellent; he has a great shot; and he’s no liability in his own end.
If Schultz does play in Detroit this year, it'd be a crowded blueline, but I think that's a good thing. Take a look:FA Signing (Please let it be Suter) / White
Kronwall / Smith
Big Rig / Quincey
Schultz / Kindl
That leaves us with 8 defensemen. Two of which (Smith/Schultz) have potential (maybe Kindl too) to be stars. It'd give the Wings a chance to possibily trade Quincey as well, because while some figure he's valuable, I don't think he's a fit on this team. The one area we'd be lacking is in size.Still with skills like this, that's not a problem.
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I watched highlights of this guy on NHL live, great stuff, I do hope the Wings make a BIG push to get him! More defense, Kronwall jumps in on offense quite a bit last season! Oh and this guy is NHL ready!
Oh, and far as Kindl is concerned wasn't very impressive the guy gave me a heart attack every time he got the puck
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@garth I have to agree. I would like to see more defensive pay in a D-man's highlight video.
@Jay Argentina The offense is nice, but he doesn't appear to be doing much special, and he sure as shit isn't a replacement for Stuart's defensive abilities.
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I remember a few years ago it came up in a conversation that both Babcock and Holland are a fan of having 8 NHL ready defense man on the roster. Sounds like that would put them at just right for the year.
@Jay Argentina The problem with that is Brendan Smith isn't yet NHL-ready, and it would be a waste of money to sit Ericsson or Quincey just for the sake of rotating the defensive pairings.
The blueline there is not just crowded, but overcrowded. Assuming we were to get Schultz and Suter, that leaves Ericcson, Kindl, White, and Quincey as movement options. Of those, I think the team is pretty committed to Ericcson and White. That makes Kindl and Quincey as 7th man options (KH and Babs have already promised a regular roster spot to this kid and Smith was lumped in by Babs as having an almost guaranteed spot in his interview with Khan). Kindl is a great 7th d-man for us and Quincey will be too expensive for that role. I doubt we will break even in a trade on our investment with him, but IF we get Suter and Schultz, he is gonna be on the move.
I hope they trade quincy, or just keep him as a healthy scratch. Takes way too many penalties that super fuck us every time
Maybe Kindl? Jesus H., are you serious? Maybe I'll find a suite case with a million dollars or maybe some really really attractive woman with very iffy standards will become infatuated with me. I'm not holding my breath.
I would like to see Schultz here for two reasons, he's good & it shows we still have cache. BUT, if he doesn't, it's not the end of the world. Let us not forget about a kid named Dekyser (or however you spell it) who's playing for Western this year. He is next years' Schultz and is almost a lock to become a Wing.
@marti783 Dekyser won't have the hype of Schultz because he is a large defensively-minded fellow compared to this offensively-minded Schultz. If we get Smith and Schultz and Suter, we won't have the roster spot next year for Dekyser unless we don't keep White around.
@ThroatShot As far as roster spots, it's not like we can't move Kindl or E. Let's be honest, depending on how he starts the year, they won't hesitate to move Kindl for very little if they have too. Same goes with E. He played better this past year but who was he paired with when that happend? I think his name was Lidstrom or something..
@Reddy Yeah, after reading your comment I think I agree. I think part of me is over compensating, because he went from absolutely terrible to invisible.
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@thebiglachovsky Played well is a bit of an overstatement I would say. He played just fine, like an unnoticeable expendable should play. He doesn't use his size, his shot is awful, in fact I can't name anything he excels at. I couldn't give a rat's ass about Ericsson tbh, as far as I'm concerned he takes up space and money that could be better used. And I'm very unhappy about his constant blind passes in front of our crease.
@marti783 Kindl would be moveable, but 1) he would have a minimal return, 2) we would then be sitting someone better / more expensive in that 7th spot, and 3) Babs and KH have all but assured Schultz a spot in the lineup and said as much about Smith.
@marti783 @ThroatShot I would take issue with Ericsson's improvement being only contributed to Lidstrom. From what I can remember, he only really played with Lidstrom in the beginning of the year and played well the rest of the year pretty much regardless of the pairing.
@freakazoid0587 @marti783 @ThroatShotModfied NTC. That's one little three-syllable word. but an important one.
@freakazoid0587 @ThroatShot Ericsson has a NTC?! F*CK! Haha, I didn't even know that. Well, my guess is that if it ever came to trading him, he would be a nice fella and give them a list of teams he'd be willing to go to.
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@marti783 @ThroatShot Has everyone forgotten about Ericsson's NTC??? Holland and the Wings are committed to him. If anyone moves it is White-Quincey-Kindl.
@marti783 Kindl has a ton of untapped potential (drafted in the first round, Pt. per game guy in the OHL), it just is a question of if he can make it happen. He's improved significantly from his start in Detroit, but never has shown a "star" power. Still, I don't think it is totally out of the question.
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I was wondering if this would come up.
I think Detroit should trade quincy with cleary for a decent forward.
Sign Suter, Shultz, Parise, and Semin and you have the making of a new Detroit dynasty.
I doubt all of this will ever happen but I will say something wildly unpopular.... Maybe Lidstrom retired at the perfect time for Detroit...
I know Semin isn't a popular choice but I actually think if his heart is in it, Detroit could be the place to turn around his career. The only loose end with this is how to fit Weber in next year.
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@magnum9 If things go as planned, Detroit could be sitting pretty. In fact, they could be loaded.
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@moorecha I hope they end up loaded. I would just be VERY happy to see them sign Shultz because we need to be adding some hot prospects and getting them into the game this year. The other guy they just signed needs to be in this year too.
I just hope people don't second guess Semin too much. He could be a better signing for the right team than Parise. Detroit just might be that team. But I still say Parise is priority number 1.
Damn... is it Sunday yet?
