Let’s Talk Justin Schlutz

One of the most polarizing figures that currently holds a spot on the Edmonton Oilers roster is defender Justin Schultz. Signed in the summer of 2012, Schultz was supposed to be Edmonton’s big dog moving forward in terms of puck movement. Unfortunately, for both player and team, that has not happened.

Forget Norris Trophy potential, forget top-pairing defender potential, Schultz has neither of that. What he may one day be is a top-four defender who can play on the power play and move the puck. He’d need a veteran defender as his partner to cover for him, he’s merely a complimentary player right now.

You see, those players have value. A team like Chicago or Washington could bring Schultz in and shelter him, playing him in a safer role and giving him a steady partner. The Oilers do not have that luxury, they don’t have a strong enough defense to cover for someone like Schultz.

The issues here are abundant and clear. Justin Schultz struggles in a lot of different areas and it appears that he does not fit with this organization moving forward. One thing we know as fact is that Peter Chiarelli likes hard to play against guys, while Todd McLellan likes mobile defenders who can move the puck and stand strong at the blue-line.

Justin Schultz is neither of those guys. Listen, some guys just don’t have the ‘it’ factor to play a hard and physical game. Justin Schultz is one of those players. For whatever reason, he can’t handle the physical style of NHL defense. He folds under the pressure of a forecheck far too often and is easily beaten out in front of the net or along the boards.

For lack of a better term, this is a soft player. I’m not the only one that notices this, a number of people who have watched the Oilers closely this season and don’t have a rooting interest in the team have pointed this out to me. He’s a soft player and that causes a lot of mistakes.

This is also a player whose hockey IQ doesn’t make up for the physical shortcomings. Yes, he’s gotten smarter this year and improved in that regard, but the fact is that Justin Schultz makes a lot of mental mistakes and doesn’t read the play as quickly as one would hope. His position play is also not as sound as it needs to be when the physical game is so transparent on a player.

Moving the puck was supposed to be a strength, but it has been an issue. Watching this player, I can count the amount of clean passes to teammates in a game on one hand. For example, in the Rangers game in New York, Schultz had Taylor Hall open and about to enter the zone at least three times. Each of the passes he intended for him was wobbly and missed the mark, killing an offensive chance before it got started.

The fact of the matter here is, Justin Schultz struggles to move the puck up to the forwards on a regular basis. For a player with so much offensive talent, and he has it folks, it’s baffling to see the grenade passes every night. He’s got a good shot, but he’s almost hesitant to use it or misses the net. That shot becomes ineffective.

On the power play, the woes continue. Numerous times against the Bruins and Rangers, Schultz spent at least half the man advantage rushing the puck up ice and failing to gain the zone. Is that all on him? No, he wasn’t getting much help if any from his teammates, but he needs to be able to enter the zone and at least get things going. Edmonton’s power play has been noticeably worse with him on it.

This isn’t to say that Justin Schultz is a useless NHL player, I don’t believe that. I think Schultz could easily help a team in this league, but it needs to be the right fit. A young team like Edmonton that struggles defensively is not the right fit for a guy like Schultz, that much has become apparent.

Personally, I’d look to move the player if I was Peter Chiarelli. Edmonton has a strong base in Andrej Sekera, Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom. Getting a solid number four is key to the development of this hockey club. I don’t think Justin Schultz is the guy for Edmonton.

This team needs a more complete, more two-way, player in it’s top four over Schultz. It’s quite apparent that the player is not succeeding in his current role and that’s a problem.

With Edmonton tied for the final playoff spot in the Pacific, the pressure to make a move is not exactly there right now. That said, with Schultz being an RFA this summer, decision time is coming. This recent stretch has made the decision for me.