Jan Levine: Should the Rangers Pursue Justin Schultz? Blueshirts reported have interest, would he be a wise signing?

NO

NO NO NO

Matt Cullen Yes Yes Yes

Sign him and trade him to Edmonton for Draisaitl.

Jan Levine: Should the Rangers Pursue Justin Schultz?
Blueshirts reported have interest, would he be a wise signing?
- airjan23

Yep. Play him on the bottom pair 5x5 and some PP time and he'll be fine.

Ask him to be a modern day Brian Leach and he'll dissapoint.

Yep. Play him on the bottom pair 5x5 and some PP time and he'll be fine.

Ask him to be a modern day Brian Leach and he'll dissapoint.
- Jeropotato

Are his defensive issues overblown or an accurate portrayal of how he played?

Wow, do you think the Florida GM is going to read this & go.....no, who am I kidding. The Florida GM won't read this!

Now, were all the analytical guys all over Yandle as an offensive Dman? I honestly can't remember. If they were, old Shultzy boy should be getting more love. Really, can Shultz be any worse than what Yandle was?

I hope that we can actually get him back on board for another season - better the devil you know.........

Edit: Yandle =

Wouldn't mind him but if Shattenkirk is a realistic signing next year, where does he slot in? Klein could be traded, but Girardi could still be an issue and I think trading McIlrath would be a mistake. If we really think we can get Shattenkirk next year, trade Klein in the offseason and see how Girardi rebounds. If Girardi has another garbAge season he will most likely be bought out. That leaves Shattenkirk Klein(if G is bought out) McIlrath. Or if G rebounds and Klein is traded that's Shattenkirk G McIlrath. Not to mention Holden plays the right side when needed.

Yep. Play him on the bottom pair 5x5 and some PP time and he'll be fine.

Ask him to be a modern day Brian Leach and he'll dissapoint.
- Jeropotato

You can pretty much say that about most Dmen that aren't legit top 2/4 Dmen.

We had the same problem with both Cole & Lovejob, both of whom played very well when they were played to their abilities & not top pair.

Interesting on how the Devils will play Lovejob, especially seeing as though their young gun was traded.

Sign him and trade him to Edmonton for Draisaitl.
- Mr.Bobby

Are his defensive issues overblown or an accurate portrayal of how he played?
- airjan23

He was pretty bad last year, just mentally incompetent, but his possesion numbers were good the year before. Give him 14 minutes a night and he'll be good, give him 25 and he'll make too many (frank) ups.

Plus he was an oiler so all his faults are gonna be overblown.

You can pretty much say that about most Dmen that aren't legit top 2/4 Dmen.

We had the same problem with both Cole & Lovejob, both of whom played very well when they were played to their abilities & not top pair.

Interesting on how the Devils will play Lovejob, especially seeing as though their young gun was traded.
- Aussiepenguin

Well, yeah, if you're a bottom pair D Man you should play bottom pair minutes.
Yeah except for the ones with AHL talent and Junior hockey discipline. There are plenty of poop players in the NHL that don't belong.
Justin Schultz at least belongs in the NHL.

How much is Schenn looking for?

Wow, do you think the Florida GM is going to read this & go.....no, who am I kidding. The Florida GM won't read this!

Now, were all the analytical guys all over Yandle as an offensive Dman? I honestly can't remember. If they were, old Shultzy boy should be getting more love. Really, can Shultz be any worse than what Yandle was?

I hope that we can actually get him back on board for another season - better the devil you know.........

Edit: Yandle =
- Aussiepenguin

Thanks for sharing. In no way shape or form was I trying to insinuate Schultz = Yandle and trust me, most Rangers fans wanted him back.
In all honesty, what was the view of Schultz in Pittsburgh?

Until Gorton puts the appetizers down, no one has any idea on the direction he plans on taking this club. Girardi Holden Klein McIlrath already on the right.klein is probably the best. Girardi is a big question mark. Holden is an unknown but looks to be a solid 2nd pair guy. McIlrath brings something no one else on this team brings. Which 2 do you get rid of for Shultz? Get rid of 1 and keep stalling McIlraths growth? Buyout G?

Jan, he was a very good complimentary piece and most Pens fans would love to see him back for 2-2.25 million. His defensive woes seemed overblown once he gained his confidence back. He was also dangerous with the puck and I wanted to see him more on the PP.

What we saw was a very talented defenseman who is a bottom pairing guy, but can still develop into a top 4 threat.

Justin Shultz' shot is not overpowering but seems to be able to sneak shots through the defense. He would help most power plays. He also has good vision in the offensive zone, he made a number of nice passes that set up scoring opportunities.

His defense will improve as he ages, but I can't see where he will be anything more than an average defenseman.

Wow, do you think the Florida GM is going to read this & go.....no, who am I kidding. The Florida GM won't read this!

Now, were all the analytical guys all over Yandle as an offensive Dman? I honestly can't remember. If they were, old Shultzy boy should be getting more love. Really, can Shultz be any worse than what Yandle was?

I hope that we can actually get him back on board for another season - better the devil you know.........

Edit: Yandle =
- Aussiepenguin

What even is this gibberish?

@Jan:

For the most part, many of us hated the acquisition for obvious reasons, but in all honesty Schultz hit the ground running in the Burgh. It didn't take him any time at all to get acclimated and he was a good bottom pairing guy for us from his first game until the last two games he played in the SCF. Let me put it this way. When Ben Lovejoy came back from injury, some suggested leaving Schultz in the lineup in favor of fan favorite Olli Maatta and they weren't being laughed out of the room. By the Caps series, most of us were clamoring for Schultz over Maatta and were all relieved when it finally happened.

I watched Schultz play for us and I saw a very talented kid who still had room could grow. He wasn't the defensive liability he was billed to be, and I saw flashes of board play that made me think he could grow to be more than just a bottom pairing guy. I'd love to have him back in the Burgh and have him spend another year learning under Gonchar to see if he could grow into Daley's role for when Daley departs after next season.

Schultz, if he comes at ~2 mil, will be a good signing for whoever ends up getting him if they're an uptempo team that stresses defensive mobility and the team plans to use him in a bottom pairing role at least to start. If he goes to another crappy team where he's thrown into another big role because there's no one else with talent on the team, he'll crash and burn.

Given the Rangers' passive, crease protection style of defense, I do not think Schultz is a good fit for you guys.

He is just what the Rangers need. I would sign him now to a multi year contract

Most in Pittsburgh would like to see him come back because he adds alot of help to our power play and he didn't exhibit the defensive gaffs that his reputation had. He's a very fluid skater, his shot seems to always be on net, and his ability to handle the puck on a rush is great. His weakness in Pittsburgh was positioning and communication skills with his partner. His aggressive nature needs paired with a stay at home defenseman. Vic's analysis is accurate too.

would he play?

why trade for Holden and sign Clendening then?

IMO, Schultz needs one more year with a good team where he can play bottom pairing minutes with some power play time. Very good skating, shooting and passing. Not very good awareness on the defensive side and he is pretty weak on his feet, aka gets himself crossed up and is going down every time he makes a hit.

Still hoping the Pens can re-sign him but it's in his best interest to try to draw the biggest paycheck which will be elsewhere.

What even is this gibberish?
- AdamFrench

What - even - is - this - gibberish? Is that even an actual question? Vraiment?

Thanks for sharing. In no way shape or form was I trying to insinuate Schultz = Yandle and trust me, most Rangers fans wanted him back.
In all honesty, what was the view of Schultz in Pittsburgh?
- airjan23

I think the others have responded, but I'll say this. For a third round pick there was blood in the water after the trade, but by the end everyman & his dog was over the moon with a third rounder for Shultz.

I will say though, having Gonchar in his corner no doubt helped his cause a great deal.