Oilers Dump Schultz on Penguins

			2016		2016	2017
To Pittsburgh	POS	GP	G/W	P	Cap	Status
Justin Schultz	D	45	3	10	$1.95 mil	RFA
--------------
To Edmonton	POS	GP	G/W	P	Cap	Status
2016 3rd Round Draft Pick
Retained 50% of Schultz's salary (pro-rated)					$1.95 mil

The Justin Schultz experiment is over in Edmonton and it was an astounding failure.

After so much hope and promise of a good offensive defenseman coming out of the college ranks, the Oilers have managed to cut their losses with the career -78 rated player and help their long-standing rebuild process with a 3rd round draft pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Schultz's numbers don't really stand out against those of the already situated core group of defenders in Pittsburgh, but the dynamic will be a lot different from that of Edmonton, so there is still hope for this kid's career yet.  The Penguins give a lot of green lights to their offensive blueliners, to which they already have guys like Kris Letang, Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley on their staff.  You may even argue that the Penguins did the opposite of what they should have done and tried to acquire a defensive defenseman.

Nevertheless, with Schultz hitting free agency in the Summer, restricted, if the Penguins choose to qualify him, there is a bit of flexibility in what the team can and can't do with him, depending on this audition.

Does this boost Stacey C.'s team any?  You would have to find the quality minutes for Schultz to play before you can say that this is a boost to his side.  Stacey is hoping for a top 20 finish and is only 5 points back of John S., in the middle of action on Saturday, to make it into 20th spot.  If the Penguins find a spot for Schultz, a spot that generates some offense, then yes... there is enough offense to go around here.  If not, this could be a move that sees another big name player in the press box at a reduced rate of retained salary.