The rumors and speculation were true. Pittsburgh was definitely looking to add some depth at the defense position. In an effort to accomplish that goal the team reached out to the Edmonton Oilers and offered up their 2016 third round pick in exchange for Justin Schultz with his cap hit (3.9M) being 50% retained.
There are definite pros and cons to this deal. You don't usually land a player free of blemishes with a third round pick right at the trade deadline. In fact you could argue Justin Schultz has been a mess in Edmonton this year (and others). Pittsburgh is banking on a change of scenery and a better supporting cast to prop up Schultz's skill set. It is possible that Schultz plays better in Pittsburgh. It is also possible he flames out.
Acquiring Justin Schultz is along the same lines as acquiring Trevor Daley. You are getting a guy that can move and skate the puck and contribute offensively but you are also getting a player that struggles in his own end. This is a step in the right direction because Pittsburgh has been accustomed to using players who are terrible in their own end (Scuderi, Orpik, Engelland, Murray) but have absolutely no ability with that puck or potential to generate offense.
In his career Justin Schultz has a 5v5 points per 60 of 0.74. That places him 85 out of the 235 defensemen in that sample size (minimum 1000 minutes). He isn’t a high end offensive player but is comfortably in the top half.
From 2012-16 he has a -.24% relative Score-Adjusted Fenwick which means he has been below average on a below average Edmonton team on the possession front. That isn't good.
There is a very big difference in the quality of the Edmonton roster and that of Pittsburgh's. In Pittsburgh they have a top four they are rolling with right now that includes Kris Letang, Olli Maatta, Brian Dumoulin, and Trevor Daley. That isn't the best top four in the league but it is a lot better than what Edmonton has been rolling out over the years. The main point is that Justin Schultz will not have to play in the same elevated role that he has been placed in during his Oilers tenure. He can play that sheltered role without the incredibly high expectations that appeared to have crushed him in Edmonton. And he was crushed in Edmonton just ask him.
Quotes courtesy of Josh Yohe of DK on Pittsburgh Sports
“I’m at a real low point right now,” he said. “I’ve lost my confidence. Just at a low point completely. I needed a fresh start and, hopefully, this is the fresh start that I need.”
“There were such high expectations for us,” Schultz said. “Maybe it wasn’t fair in the end. You know, we never learned how to win. It was tough. It didn’t go well for me or for a lot of the guys. I think they’ll turn it around eventually, but it was so tough.”
“I just lost all confidence, pretty much,” he told me. “I’ve been holding the stick a little tight, no doubt about it. There was a lot of pressure here. It got to be too much for me. I think that fresh start will be really good for me.”
The Penguins are hoping that Sergei Gonchar can play the role as hockey's Dog Whisperer
Others believe in the potential for Schultz to turn it around
Here is some more information about the trade and Schultz
Justin Schultz will have to take care of some visa issues and will not be available to Pittsburgh until Wednesday or Thursday at the earliest.
Lastly, this has the potential to be more than a rental for Pittsburgh. Justin Schultz is an RFA and the team will have the option of qualifying him. If Schultz does struggle the team does not have to qualify him and he can be a UFA. There is plenty of hockey to be played before there is more clarity on this front.
This trade could go either way for Pittsburgh and the cost of a third round pick isn’t going to kill them. The plan is clearly to try and score as many goals as possible with the understanding that they may give up a few as well. I like that strategy a lot better than the conservative approach which involves a lot of “safe plays” that aren’t really safe. Hockey is meant to be entertaining and Pittsburgh continues to add players that can provide on that front. The best part about this trade may be the fact it kept Pittsburgh from pursuing Calgary's Kris Russell.
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Some other news and notes
They may not be looking to add another forward but I believe they will find a suitor for Sergei Plotnikov and move him by the time 3PM hits tomorrow.
Keep an eye on Jeff Zatkoff's status. Matt Murray was called up again on Saturday after the game.
Thanks for reading!
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