Yeah, just like last year: above being completely awful. Sadly, unlike last year, our defense is only a mild tire fire, not a complete one, so he's not "the least awful" of them. He seems like a good guy, but I'm sorry, he has zero puck skills.
- jmatchett383

Last year, Schultz really played over his head. He's come down to earth this year. He's really a 3rd pair player, being asked to take on more than he's really capable. His coverage and battles defensively to me are fine. The issue is like you said, really incapable of moving the puck quickly and efficiently to a forward in motion. Lots of errant passes, icings, and simply not hitting on outlets that are there.

psssh......let us know when he does it consistently. when will the next 12-15 game drought be?
- rinaldo

Wont deny that. But that is a consistency issue.. not an offense issue. The guy has the ability to be an offensive force. He just needs to make that consistent.

I really didnt think he played bad at all last night. He definitely is not the guy I want carrying the puck, shooting the puck, make break out passes with the puck, stealing stanley cup final pucks, playing Puck from a Midsummer Night's Dream, interviewing Puck from The Real World, or literally having anything to do with any other derivative of the word puck. Unless it involves letting a puck hit him. Ill allow that.
- jak521

I like this.

Wont deny that. But that is a consistency issue.. not an offense issue. The guy has the ability to be an offensive force. He just needs to make that consistent.
- jak521

whoa, an offensive force? cant agree there....potential to prodcue more, yes

Just a little something I found funny in how generic it was:

I get EMails from the Blue Jackets since I went to a game 5 years ago. Their EMail headline with respect to the blockbuster trade:

"Jackets Acquire Defenseman"

No names, no excitement. No indication of whether they had acquired Seth Jones or Tim Ramholt.

Dear God. Just looked back at yesterdays blog...

Did he really not pick up on the fact that I was being sarcastic when I said that Schenn and Rinaldo were literally the same player?


- jak521

I was feeding into the sarcasm some more

Huh. Numbers saying that? Eye test, I thought I saw a lot of good things, including that simply dominant shift in the first
- AllInForFlyers

This is only a comment on his recent stretch of play, and not a comment on Giroux overall as a player. He was terrible last night overall, and has not been good for a while.

Last year, Schultz really played over his head. He's come down to earth this year. He's really a 3rd pair player, being asked to take on more than he's really capable. His coverage and battles defensively to me are fine. The issue is like you said, really incapable of moving the puck quickly and efficiently to a forward in motion. Lots of errant passes, icings, and simply not hitting on outlets that are there.
- MJL

I would think they would move him if there's any real interest at the TDL

As you said, he was fine last year. That was when they should have moved him, to me. Extension at his age was not something a few of us wanted to see

He doesn't make enough to drive me insane, and someone needs to do what he does, but I think it was McKenzie who said something to the effect that you can't fall in love with average players, and Schultz was that. The multiyear extension was simply too generous, not for the salary but the term

whoa, an offensive force? cant agree there....potential to prodcue more, yes
- rinaldo

Near a point per game over the past month and a half.. thats pretty much offensive force.

He had a rough November, but say he was able to muster 5 points over those 12 games.. He would be on pace for 53 points..

That is offensive force. Not elite offense. Not superstar offense. But right around Patrice Bergeron last year. That pretty damn good for your top defensive center.

This is only a comment on his recent stretch of play, and not a comment on Giroux overall as a player. He was terrible last night overall, and has not been good for a while.
- MJL

Huh. Like I said, I didn't see it quite that way last night, but that's ok -- I can say this last stretch overall hasn't been his best

The only real negative from last night, other than Ghost getting hurt, was the play of Nick Schultz. When you really focus on him you see how mediocre he is in the D zone and how utterly inept he is with the puck on his stick. He was much better last year, it's both puzzling and aggravating.

I like this.
- MJL

Thanks. I thought it was pretty clever myself.

I would think they would move him if there's any real interest at the TDL

As you said, he was fine last year. That was when they should have moved him, to me. Extension at his age was not something a few of us wanted to see

He doesn't make enough to drive me insane, and someone needs to do what he does, but I think it was McKenzie who said something to the effect that you can't fall in love with average players, and Schultz was that. The multiyear extension was simply too generous, not for the salary but the term
- AllInForFlyers

2 years is too generous? I think that's overblown, nor is it falling in love with an average player. If need be, I think the Flyers could easily move Schultz in a trade.

The only real negative from last night, other than Ghost getting hurt, was the play of Nick Schultz. When you really focus on him you see how mediocre he is in the D zone and how utterly inept he is with the puck on his stick. He was much better last year, it's both puzzling and aggravating.
- BiggE

I thought he had one of his better games. Yes, again, his puck skills are akin to that of Amy from the movie Kongo, but he played a solid defensive game I thought.

Huh. Like I said, I didn't see it quite that way last night, but that's ok -- I can say this last stretch overall hasn't been his best
- AllInForFlyers

Faceoffs was really the only area he did well in last night. He was otherwise below average, and has been for a while.

The only real negative from last night, other than Ghost getting hurt, was the play of Nick Schultz. When you really focus on him you see how mediocre he is in the D zone and how utterly inept he is with the puck on his stick. He was much better last year, it's both puzzling and aggravating.
- BiggE

Water just found its level with Schultz. He's just in over his head right now. He could really help a contender in the 6/7 hole. He's just asked to do things now against competition he absolutely should not be facing

Near a point per game over the past month and a half.. thats pretty much offensive force.

He had a rough November, but say he was able to muster 5 points over those 12 games.. He would be on pace for 53 points..

That is offensive force. Not elite offense. Not superstar offense. But right around Patrice Bergeron last year. That pretty damn good for your top defensive center.
- jak521

ok well then my argument is in November he didn't produce squat. so not an offensive force. plenty of peeps have good runs.

please stop with the Bergeron crap. my God.

2 years is too generous? I think that's overblown, nor is it falling in love with an average player. If need be, I think the Flyers could easily move Schultz in a trade.
- MJL

Absolutely -- two years for Nick Schultz? What's he going to do if you offer him one year, cripple the franchise if he walks?

He's the very definition of average.

Just a little something I found funny in how generic it was:

I get EMails from the Blue Jackets since I went to a game 5 years ago. Their EMail headline with respect to the blockbuster trade:

"Jackets Acquire Defenseman"

No names, no excitement. No indication of whether they had acquired Seth Jones or Tim Ramholt.
- jmatchett383

That is pretty funny. I also saw that article on NHL.com...Jones and Joey ran into each other at the airport and Johansen is going to live in Jones' old apartment. I enjoy hearing about those little things

Absolutely -- two years for Nick Schultz? What's he going to do if you offer him one year, cripple the franchise if he walks?

He's the very definition of average.
- AllInForFlyers

It isn't about what he's going to do if you offer him one year. Hextall saw how he played last year, liked some of his intangibles, and wanted the player for two years, and the price was right. There is very little risk in the signing. So many things are overblown.

Absolutely -- two years for Nick Schultz? What's he going to do if you offer him one year, cripple the franchise if he walks?

He's the very definition of average.
- AllInForFlyers

guys like him should not get 2 year deals. if its a 2 year deal for 1-1.5 per then maybe.

I don't know how many teams want to pay him 2.5 next year when they can get someone for 1m or less to do the same job.

The only real negative from last night, other than Ghost getting hurt, was the play of Nick Schultz. When you really focus on him you see how mediocre he is in the D zone and how utterly inept he is with the puck on his stick. He was much better last year, it's both puzzling and aggravating.
- BiggE

I didn't see the injury. What happened to Ghost?

I thought he had one of his better games. Yes, again, his puck skills are akin to that of Amy from the movie Kongo, but he played a solid defensive game I thought.
- jak521

He was ok defensively but when you can't make a simple 10 foot pass accurately, being ok defensively is just not enough.

Are you f'ing kidding me? Lecavalier an assist last night? Yolk on Hextall's brow.
- PLindbergh31

I watched a bit of the game and the Kings announcers were all over the narrative that he is now stepping into a reduced role. I laugh, but I do hope he plays well for them. There's no reason not to root for him and he stuck by his word that he just wants to play

Water just found its level with Schultz. He's just in over his head right now. He could really help a contender in the 6/7 hole. He's just asked to do things now against competition he absolutely should not be facing
- AllInForFlyers

True, though you could pretty much say that about most of our D