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Tampering Talk Is A Tactic To Get Something For Schultz

May 31, 2012, 2:05 PM ET [1826 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It is not exactly a stretch to believe that the Maple Leafs have a very good chance of signing University of Wisconsin’s Justin Schultz. Toronto GM Brian Burke tried in vain to acquire him back in February 2011, but his former employers in Anaheim believed that the young defenseman projected to be a better pro than fellow Badger and close friend Jake Gardiner.

The Ducks have reached a crossroads with the 21 year old, as he has consistently rejected their overtures to sign on the dotted line. The clock has started as Schultz de-registered from school last week, which leaves Anaheim only 30 days to get him under contract before he is free and clear to negotiate with other NHL clubs and sign as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

The great fear of Anaheim GM Bob Murray is quickly shifting from not being able to sign the blueliner to being able to get something for him before he signs elsewhere.

This is the same scenario that Phoenix encountered with Blake Wheeler in 2008. After being drafted 5th overall in 2004, Wheeler played one season in the USHL and three seasons at the University of Minnesota. Since four years had elapsed since his draft year, Wheeler had the option to sign an entry level deal with Phoenix or become an unrestricted free agent. He opted for the latter and signed with Boston on July 1, with Phoenix getting nothing back for him.

In the last week, rumors have popped up regarding Schultz’s potential destination.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Michael Russo reported that the Minnesota Wild, in spite of having interest in Schultz, did not have a chance to get him because another team had gotten to him.

courtesy of reporter Chuck Schwartz"…he has his mind set on going to one specific team right now. And whatever that team is, I guarantee you the Anaheim Ducks will go after them with a tampering charge, because the Anaheim Ducks have been building that case for the last couple of months. They have all sorts of e-mails from him basically saying, ‘I'm coming there, I'm coming there,' and suddenly, for some reason, he's not coming there."


Russo stated later via his Twitter account that the team that he believes Schultz is bound for is Toronto.

There is no way to know if the possibility of Anaheim filing tampering charges is real or if the source of the rumor came from inside the Ducks organization, but the mere threat of the rumor could be a tactic to get a deal done for Schultz’s rights while they have exclusive negotiating rights, in the hopes of recouping a draft pick or prospect for the youngster.

One problem with the whole tampering scenario is that Burke is well aware of the rules, being a lawyer and having worked for the NHL as director of hockey operations in the 1990’s. It’s a stretch to believe that he would make such an obvious misstep.

The Leafs GM was accused of tampering in the summer of 2009 by Vancouver GM Mike Gillis(who is known not to be a big fan of Burke) regarding a trip to Sweden and pursuing would-be UFA’s Henrik and Daniel Sedin, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing. It is hard to think that Murray, who was Burke’s assistant in Anaheim and has made a number of deals with Toronto over the last three seasons, would go down that road.

E-mails from a draft pick stating that he is going to sign and then decides not to or even conversations between college friends are not grounds for being guilty of tampering.

Based on the relationship between the two organizations, if Schultz’s chosen destination is Toronto, it would not come as a shock to see a trade for his rights being made close to the NHL Draft.

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