That's right, covet. I didn't stutter. I happen to live in the south as well so fortunately I can speak in an informed manner on the topic. So lets just say, for arguments sake, you do covet the game. We know all too well what happens after a team wins the cup in LA. Win game 7. Parade. How about those Dodgers? Win the cup in Edmonton and you are talked about at every Tim Hortons and dinner table for the rest of the year. Maybe ever? What else is to look forward to, The Trappers? Win several cups, you're a legend. Ask the next person you see in Anaheim, "Who is Colin Fraser?". You'll probably get someone sprinting to the nearest Neimans thinking he's the next designer of the "it" handbag. Ask the same question in Edmonton, you'll get a much different answer. That's the difference. But I applaud your support of the sport.

The game is "business". It does suck that the Ducks got squat for that pick. I, for the record, would be hacked off too. But if you could name the place you went in the NHL, would you risk being traded to Columbus or Nashville. That does not look like a great business plan to me. Should he apologize for playing the "business" better than most?

The lockout did show what was important to players and owners, you're right. Tough when it doesn't go your way. Thats what we're all upset about. Players dont care about fans and such. Edmonton is well accustomed to it. I suggest other cities do the same.

But your last point is still the worst. It may be human nature, but is there a worse "business" decision on what to do with your career? That's why we like the kid. He could have gone anywhere, and chose to play in a hockey town closer to home in spite of all the hormones raging inside of him. The Ducks had years to sign this guy and Schultz saw the lack of commitment. They dragged their feet on trying to make a good business decision and screwed it up in the process. The kid turned into a star and held all the cards. Tough business. We're just happy it went our way one time. We're about 1 for the last 10 years. I think we were due. And are still.
- fightobesity

I liked the kid because he was a Badger, and I will always love my Badgers, but he sets a very dangerous precedent for all teams. We in Panther country were chewing at the fingernails waiting to see what Bjugstad was going to do (he signed) and are now doing the same with Corban Knight (he has not and has finished his 4 years), waiting to see if they will pull a "Schultz" as we now call it. What works for you now (for the Oil that is) could lead to your utter disappointment down the road if you end up on the receiving end and you would look back on this kid as the one who kickstarted the trend as it were. He was the first of the high profile guys to do it, probably will not be the last I fear.

That's right, covet. I didn't stutter. I happen to live in the south as well so fortunately I can speak in an informed manner on the topic. So lets just say, for arguments sake, you do covet the game. We know all too well what happens after a team wins the cup in LA. Win game 7. Parade. How about those Dodgers? Win the cup in Edmonton and you are talked about at every Tim Hortons and dinner table for the rest of the year. Maybe ever? What else is to look forward to, The Trappers? Win several cups, you're a legend. Ask the next person you see in Anaheim, "Who is Colin Fraser?". You'll probably get someone sprinting to the nearest Neimans thinking he's the next designer of the "it" handbag. Ask the same question in Edmonton, you'll get a much different answer. That's the difference. But I applaud your support of the sport.

The game is "business". It does suck that the Ducks got squat for that pick. I, for the record, would be hacked off too. But if you could name the place you went in the NHL, would you risk being traded to Columbus or Nashville. That does not look like a great business plan to me. Should he apologize for playing the "business" better than most?

The lockout did show what was important to players and owners, you're right. Tough when it doesn't go your way. Thats what we're all upset about. Players dont care about fans and such. Edmonton is well accustomed to it. I suggest other cities do the same.

But your last point is still the worst. It may be human nature, but is there a worse "business" decision on what to do with your career? That's why we like the kid. He could have gone anywhere, and chose to play in a hockey town closer to home in spite of all the hormones raging inside of him. The Ducks had years to sign this guy and Schultz saw the lack of commitment. They dragged their feet on trying to make a good business decision and screwed it up in the process. The kid turned into a star and held all the cards. Tough business. We're just happy it went our way one time. We're about 1 for the last 10 years. I think we were due. And are still.
- fightobesity

I agree with most everything you say except the bolded part. Ducks did have discussions on signing him, Schultz was the one dragging his feet, not being able to decide on leaving college or not. Ducks had an agreement ready after his junior year I believe but he decided to go back for another season with the Badgers. That agreeement was extended for the next season and the Ducks offered him a contract that would have enabled him to basically waive his first year of ELC.

That's right, covet. I didn't stutter. I happen to live in the south as well so fortunately I can speak in an informed manner on the topic. So lets just say, for arguments sake, you do covet the game. We know all too well what happens after a team wins the cup in LA. Win game 7. Parade. How about those Dodgers? Win the cup in Edmonton and you are talked about at every Tim Hortons and dinner table for the rest of the year. Maybe ever? What else is to look forward to, The Trappers? Win several cups, you're a legend. Ask the next person you see in Anaheim, "Who is Colin Fraser?". You'll probably get someone sprinting to the nearest Neimans thinking he's the next designer of the "it" handbag. Ask the same question in Edmonton, you'll get a much different answer. That's the difference. But I applaud your support of the sport.

The game is "business". It does suck that the Ducks got squat for that pick. I, for the record, would be hacked off too. But if you could name the place you went in the NHL, would you risk being traded to Columbus or Nashville. That does not look like a great business plan to me. Should he apologize for playing the "business" better than most?

The lockout did show what was important to players and owners, you're right. Tough when it doesn't go your way. Thats what we're all upset about. Players dont care about fans and such. Edmonton is well accustomed to it. I suggest other cities do the same.

But your last point is still the worst. It may be human nature, but is there a worse "business" decision on what to do with your career? That's why we like the kid. He could have gone anywhere, and chose to play in a hockey town closer to home in spite of all the hormones raging inside of him. The Ducks had years to sign this guy and Schultz saw the lack of commitment. They dragged their feet on trying to make a good business decision and screwed it up in the process. The kid turned into a star and held all the cards. Tough business. We're just happy it went our way one time. We're about 1 for the last 10 years. I think we were due. And are still.
- fightobesity

Wow, for a Canadian hockey expert you sure are ignorant. Judas Schultz held ALL of the cards. If the Ducks trade him to another team, Schultz just chooses not to sign with them and screws over another team.
I have no problem with what he did, but he could have been up front about it and told Murray he wanted to play elsewhere and then the Ducks could have gotten a 5th round pick or worse for him. That's what the first prima donna, Eric Lindros did.

Schultz is gone. While some fans are still peeved I think most have moved on and were just having a little fun at the Oilers game.

They booed Nick Schultz for all of 1 shift, I guess because the crowd didn't realize the 2 guys named Schultz were on the ice at the same time. The whole thing has been blown out of proportion. It was pretty clear who the crowd was booing.

That's right, covet. I didn't stutter. I happen to live in the south as well so fortunately I can speak in an informed manner on the topic. So lets just say, for arguments sake, you do covet the game. We know all too well what happens after a team wins the cup in LA. Win game 7. Parade. How about those Dodgers? Win the cup in Edmonton and you are talked about at every Tim Hortons and dinner table for the rest of the year. Maybe ever? What else is to look forward to, The Trappers? Win several cups, you're a legend. Ask the next person you see in Anaheim, "Who is Colin Fraser?". You'll probably get someone sprinting to the nearest Neimans thinking he's the next designer of the "it" handbag. Ask the same question in Edmonton, you'll get a much different answer. That's the difference. But I applaud your support of the sport.

The game is "business". It does suck that the Ducks got squat for that pick. I, for the record, would be hacked off too. But if you could name the place you went in the NHL, would you risk being traded to Columbus or Nashville. That does not look like a great business plan to me. Should he apologize for playing the "business" better than most?

The lockout did show what was important to players and owners, you're right. Tough when it doesn't go your way. Thats what we're all upset about. Players dont care about fans and such. Edmonton is well accustomed to it. I suggest other cities do the same.

But your last point is still the worst. It may be human nature, but is there a worse "business" decision on what to do with your career? That's why we like the kid. He could have gone anywhere, and chose to play in a hockey town closer to home in spite of all the hormones raging inside of him. The Ducks had years to sign this guy and Schultz saw the lack of commitment. They dragged their feet on trying to make a good business decision and screwed it up in the process. The kid turned into a star and held all the cards. Tough business. We're just happy it went our way one time. We're about 1 for the last 10 years. I think we were due. And are still.
- fightobesity

I have no problem with anything here except this: He consistently misled Duck management on his intentions. Was it his right to lie or change his mind? Yep. Are we going to voice our displeasure with his deception as long as he is in the league? Yep.

Have you noticed Bobby Ryan wearing #9? We booed Paul Kariya for the remainder of his career after he pulled a stunt similar to what this kid did. That's Paul freakin' Kariya! He did a lot for us, but he was never forgiven for lying to management about his intentions. His name should be hanging in the rafters at Honda Center. No chance now.

I agree with most of the comments from each of you, honestly. I've never portrayed myself as a hockey expert and would never claim to be. Baseball maybe ... that should get a rise of of a Californian more than anything :-). Should he have been more open with the Ducks? Absolutely. It does set a dangerous trend among many. After having to worry about drafting Russian talent with the KHL, now GMs need to worry about homegrown talent as well. The moral is, whoever you draft, you better have them sign the damn papers immediately ... and that isn't feasible either. The business of the game is what we all have common ground in hating. The teams we follow will all be screwed by it at some point. Edmonton is ending a long time on the business end of the screw driver, so it's a breath of fresh air for us to see something going the Oilers way. I am sure we will all reconvene here when Schultz resigns in Vancouver in a few years.