Justin Schultz has decided to join the Edmonton Oilers. The highly coveted offensive defenceman has been on the Oilers radar for about a week, and it appears that Schultz will make his NHL debut in an Oilers uniform.
Schultz who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2008 (43rd overall) gave the media a short reason as to why he didn't want to pursue a career in California but did offer this statement to the media. Perhaps it's because he misses Old Man Winter.
“It was nothing ever against Anaheim at all. They are great people and I enjoyed my time there. It was a matter of me having the option of choosing where I wanted to play.
“Playing in Canada has always been a huge thing for me. Growing up around the game, you definitely see the passion up here. It was just an option and I took it.”
Schultz, officially de-registered from the University of Wisconsin Badgers which immediately made him an unrestricted free agent and thus forcing the Anaheim brass to try to re-sign him within thirty days. Instead the Oilers snapped up the 21 year-old for next to nothing
Newly anointed Head Coach Ralph Kreuger, Taylor Hall, Paul Coffey and the Great One each had a discussion with the young lad "urging" him to start his career in Edmonton. And after making a decision to sign with Edmonton on a two-way entry level contract, Schultz could've done away with the media hype.
“It was surreal and a little overwhelming at times. I definitely didn’t expect to get this much attention, I never wanted it to get that big. I haven’t played a game in the NHL yet. It was overwhelming.”
