B.S, if that's the case he would have signed in Vancouver.
Gillis made it very clear that he would, as you said, have to work for his ice time.

The next day he signs in Edmonton

I'm not trying to be bitter and jeolous but I think it's pretty clear that ice time and role was a major factor in his decision, as noted by everyone in the mainstream.

Hence the reason for turning down powerhouses like Van and NYR.

All the more reason to be a happy Oil fan bro.
- Whiskey-Tango

No. With Alain "Rookie-bane" Vigneault at the head, Vancouver will be hard pressed to attract any young players. That in combination with the age of VAN's locker room and potential of added hometown pressure, I begin having serious doubts that Schultz would've signed with the Canucks.

The added incentive of playing with 3 1st overall picks all around his age also likely played a fairly significant role in his decision.

If you're gonna write a blog trying to give the guy praise, and then take a shot at him at the end, at least make it a good one. Wow lol. He states the obvious saying that OKC isn't a hockey city and that makes him immature??? If that's all the dirt you can find on him, then it just goes to show how mature he is for his age.

I'm actually family friends with him and know him pretty well. Couldn't be a more down to earth guy. I don't know if you've heard the him speak or give an interview, but he's of the quietest people you'll meet. He's not cocky or immature at all. I even asked him why he chose to sign with the Oilers. He gave a simple answer "because I could sign with any team I wanted". Wouldn't you sign at your first choice of team if you could?

The first guy that commented above is clueless saying that he should have signed with the team that drafted him like all other players do. He didn't hold out and refuse to sign or demand a trade or anything. He was special exception to entry level contract rules and did everything within his rights. No different than a UFA signing where they want to.
- ty_guy999

He still straight up lied to the Ducks management and coach. Then it came out that the Oil was always his first choice. He now makes comments about OKC? This kid is the typical, entitled brat who happens to be athletically gifted. He lacks integrity and maturity at this point in his career.

Its a fact the most people in oklahoma city arent hockey fans but basketball fan first...its a reality that they dont know very much about hockey or the great young players who are playing for them...he is still a kid and has actually been very involved with his other teammates in the community,lets give some praise esp when you see some young athletes from other sports getting arrested or brawling in night clubs...As for the schultz decision to not sign with the ducks, there must be more there thats not been explained..this kid has been very professional from day one and said to the oilers he will do and play wherever they want him to play...

If you're gonna write a blog trying to give the guy praise, and then take a shot at him at the end, at least make it a good one. Wow lol. He states the obvious saying that OKC isn't a hockey city and that makes him immature??? If that's all the dirt you can find on him, then it just goes to show how mature he is for his age.

I'm actually family friends with him and know him pretty well. Couldn't be a more down to earth guy. I don't know if you've heard the him speak or give an interview, but he's of the quietest people you'll meet. He's not cocky or immature at all. I even asked him why he chose to sign with the Oilers. He gave a simple answer "because I could sign with any team I wanted". Wouldn't you sign at your first choice of team if you could?

The first guy that commented above is clueless saying that he should have signed with the team that drafted him like all other players do. He didn't hold out and refuse to sign or demand a trade or anything. He was special exception to entry level contract rules and did everything within his rights. No different than a UFA signing where they want to.
- ty_guy999

If he's such a great guy, why did he cheat on my friend in college? Classless.

We gave you pronger and you won a cup,now you gave us schultz and we will win many cups...in the end its all fair you win some you lose some...its a tough pill to swallow for sure for the ducks but the oilers had to watch gretzky,messier,coffey,kurri and many many others leave and win cups elsewhere...

I don't disagree with anything you are trying to say, except this.

Why do you think that Ana could have offered more opportunities for personal success? While you did not say "more", your statement leaves it written as such.
- OilHorse

Not trying to sound like I'm mad or anything but you are kind of putting words in my mouth. What I was trying to say is that both Edmonton and Anaheim had openings on defense that he could have walked right into and they are both teams with good young talent that are on the upswing.

I feel for the Ducks in this case. I hope the NHL closes this loop-hole as well after this senseless lock-out.

i dont like how he's managed his career, PR wise, so far.

But saying that OK city doesn't have a lot of knowledgable fans or whatever.. that's not horrible. It's almost refreshing considering all the party-line fake humble poop players are bred to puke out to every microphone that's shoved in their faces.

The Oilers have more defensemen better than Schultz than the Ducks do Who's going to beat Schultz on the Ducks? Lydman, Sbisa, and MAYBE Fowler. How about on the Oilers? Smid, Schultz, Petry, and MAYBE Whitney. Please. Continue.

What you should have pointed out was that the Oilers are in a state of rebuild and thus would be more willing to grant a young player like Schultz an opportunity to win time whereas the Ducks are still trying to be competitive.
- MaximumBone

None of those guys except maybe smid are better than schultz that's a fact

i dont like how he's managed his career, PR wise, so far.

But saying that OK city doesn't have a lot of knowledgable fans or whatever.. that's not horrible. It's almost refreshing considering all the party-line fake humble poop players are bred to puke out to every microphone that's shoved in their faces.
- zedniksghost

This is what disturbes me about Shultz , but then again he's not the first NHL prospect to want out ,simply look to Turris and Wheeler who asked for a trade out of Pheonix .

Remember that the Schultz saga ended before Free Agency fully took hold. The addition of Souray and all came after, and even now I see no reason why he would have been automatically relegated to the A. I am sure he would have been given a chance to have shown his stuff.
- OilHorse

That's true but I figure that the Ducks organization probably had an idea of what they were going to address in the off-season and I figure schultz was probably told what his role in the organization would be once he was finished with college hockey

If he's such a great guy, why did he cheat on my friend in college? Classless.
- selanne4pres

cause he was a 20 year old, elite, collegiate athlete that got puck slut tail thrown at him everyday.

ida cheated on ur friend too

If he's such a great guy, why did he cheat on my friend in college? Classless.
- selanne4pres

None of those guys except maybe smid are better than schultz that's a fact
- Sabresfan-365

nick schultz is far better in his own end.. wayy underrated. good pick up for the oil.
and petry developed a ton in the 2nd half of last year.

j schultz may end up being a more impact player than either of those 2.
but,
the only actual facts here are; that as far as the nhl goes, those 2 will go into camp with spots ahead of him

cause he was a 20 year old, elite, collegiate athlete that got puck slut tail thrown at him everyday.

ida cheated on ur friend too
- hugefemale dog77

So what you're telling me is that you're a douchebag.. I wish I could be as awesome as you.

Still bitter I see. Deny it, but it is clear...were you one of the ones declaring with unwavering confidence that he was a Van fan growing up, so it was a slam dunk that he will sign there.

I have no doubt that his road to gain more minutes was easier in Edm, but he was never guaranteed them, not in public. Publicly he and the team have stated that he will need to earn his icetime. That is all we can go on.
- OilHorse

No not bitter, would have been nice tho.

You pretty much reiterated my point in relation to ice time and the best suited franchises to supply him with what he wanted.

If my memory serves correct I seem to remember PP time also being a decisive factor as well, which further proves OUR thesis of Edmonton being a preferable destination, even with it's horrible track record of most of the last decade.

nick schultz is far better in his own end.. wayy underrated. good pick up for the oil.
and petry developed a ton in the 2nd half of last year.

j schultz may end up being a more impact player than either of those 2.
but,
the only actual facts here are; that as far as the nhl goes, those 2 will go into camp with spots ahead of him
- hugefemale dog77

Neither of those guys has the talent that Justin Schultz does. The oilers are likely to give Schultz way more ice time to develop into the superstar that he is. I'm only stating this because I've seen this before from the Sabres in 09. Sure they had a couple of decent D-men but they knew full well that Tyler Myers was way more talented than any of them so rather than pull rank they just fed him the ice time and it led to calder trophy.

Neither of those guys has the talent that Justin Schultz does. The oilers are likely to give Schultz way more ice time to develop into the superstar that he is. I'm only stating this because I've seen this before from the Sabres in 09. Sure they had a couple of decent D-men but they knew full well that Tyler Myers was way more talented than any of them so rather than pull rank they just fed him the ice time and it led to calder trophy.
- Sabresfan-365

Keep in mind the Oil didn't give the kids time until Feb. They relied on their vets quite a bit.

So what you're telling me is that you're a douchebag.. I wish I could be as awesome as you.
- selanne4pres

call me what u will i guess. me and every other dude.

tell those pucks to stop servin it up on a plate for every dude with any kind of status and maybe the world will change more to your liking.
until then..ill be happy to oblige.

and of course u wish u were as awesome as me

No not bitter, would have been nice tho.

You pretty much reiterated my point in relation to ice time and the best suited franchises to supply him with what he wanted.

If my memory serves correct I seem to remember PP time also being a decisive factor as well, which further proves OUR thesis of Edmonton being a preferable destination, even with it's horrible track record of most of the last decade.
- Whiskey-Tango

bitter, jealous, hater..whatever.

either way. if he doesnt play well and earn those minutes he'll stop getting them.
maybe he will get some more time initially than the average rookie would (judging by the way he's tearing the A, its certainly seems like it could work out!!)
but he'll have a leash.

its all just conjecture on both our arguments. but i feel like i can say with the utmost confidence that tambs didnt say " no matter how well u play, your top pairing and pp qb minutes are guranteed for good"

he'll start off on a lower pairing and 2nd unit pp. (whitney will be the 1st unit qb)
and they'll go from there.

id want to play with a core near my age that has the type of potential the oilers do as well...

I feel for the Ducks in this case. I hope the NHL closes this loop-hole as well after this senseless lock-out.
- Icebergs

Agreed. Happy to have the kid, hate how we got him

No not bitter, would have been nice tho.

You pretty much reiterated my point in relation to ice time and the best suited franchises to supply him with what he wanted.

If my memory serves correct I seem to remember PP time also being a decisive factor as well, which further proves OUR thesis of Edmonton being a preferable destination, even with it's horrible track record of most of the last decade.
- Whiskey-Tango

You were stating incorrectly that he was going to be handed ice time with no contest...this was not true.

nick schultz is far better in his own end.. wayy underrated. good pick up for the oil.
and petry developed a ton in the 2nd half of last year.

j schultz may end up being a more impact player than either of those 2.
but,
the only actual facts here are; that as far as the nhl goes, those 2 will go into camp with spots ahead of him
- hugefemale dog77

So what you are saying is that if you had the choice of NShultz, JShultz and Petry, JShultz would be 3rd on your list?

So what you are saying is that if you had the choice of NShultz, JShultz and Petry, JShultz would be 3rd on your list?
- BoBBeR56

Just Oilers fans trying to have their cake and eat it to. Best offense in the league, underrated d and an amazing goalie. Why are they last? HORCOFF!

Just Oilers fans trying to have their cake and eat it to. Best offense in the league, underrated d and an amazing goalie. Why are they last? HORCOFF!
- AdamFrench