Booing Justin Schultz

On Tuesday night, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Oilers D Justin Schultz was being booed, loudly, each time he touched the puck late in a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Schultz made a terrible decision on the third goal against and was having another bad night in a tough season. The boos, by the home crowd, brought back memories of the Tom Poti days.

Now look, this is a frustrated fan base and a player who has not come close to living up to expectations. Justin Schultz was expected to be a top four defender in the NHL, but all he has done to this point is struggle as a puck moving defender. Not once in his now four year career has he played like a top four defender, and now there is doubt that he’ll ever be one.

Justin Schultz has become the face, rightfully or not, for what is an underachieving era of Oilers hockey. So much potential, so much promise, so much losing and so little winning. Somehow, against the odds, the Oilers have gone BACKWARDS in the NHL standings since bringing Schultz on board. Honestly, that’s remarkable.

Is it all on Justin Schultz? No, of course it isn’t. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that one player does not make a team, and while Schultz has not provided what was expected, he is one of many players who gets some blame. This team as a whole is not good enough. The Oilers aren’t bad because of Justin Schultz, the Oilers are bad because they are a poorly constructed hockey team and have holes all throughout the lineup.

The Issue:

A lot of people took issue with the fans in attendance on Tuesday night. People thought it was wrong for fans to boo Justin Schultz at home for poor play, after all he’s just a person and you know it’s taking a toll on him mentally. He has to be without confidence right now, I know I would be a mess if I were in his shoes.

Personally, I would choose to not boo the player, it doesn’t sit well with me. Like many have pointed out before, he’s a human and he certainly is feeling it right now. I also believe that booing Schultz will make him a worse player, not a better one.

Booing someone doesn’t make them think, “Oh wow, I better flip the switch and play good now!”No, in fact it has the opposite impact. Now Schultz is afraid to make a mistake, he’s afraid to do anything because if it doesn’t go well, he’s going to hear it even worse. Now he’s playing a conservative game and playing not to screw up. That’s a recipe for disaster folks.

The Bottom Line:

Listen, the obvious solution here is to trade Justin Schultz. He doesn’t fit in with this roster and he’s a liability for the Oilers right now. They need a fresh start and, quite frankly, he needs one too. Between now and Monday, Peter Chiarelli needs to find a way to move the rearguard to a better situation. Throw this kid a bone please.

While I wouldn’t boo Justin Schultz, I won’t bash Oilers fans for doing it. I disagree, but fans have every right to boo a player who has not performed near expectations and who is part of the issue in Edmonton. After ten years of patience and waiting, frustration is settling in and fans aren’t going to take it anymore. Unfortunately for Justin Schultz, he’s the target of that frustration.

We might not all agree with it, but let’s not overreact to this. Fans have a right to boo an underachieving player and voice their frustration. Looking down on Oilers fans for it is petty and it’s something I don’t understand. Is it fair to Justin? No. Would I do it? No, but that doesn’t mean others can’t.

So goes it in the cutthroat business of professional sports. Justin Schultz will get a greener day soon. He’s not the first player to be booed by the home fans, and he will not be the last. Welcome to sports.