Confirmed with Link: Penguins re-sign Justin Schultz (3 years, $16.5M | $5.5M AAV)

[Hockeygod66]

I'm looking for replacements for Schultz and trading him within 2 years, no questions in my mind.

Depends how he plays. He has a lot of value right now. Maybe more to another team.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Not team friendly at all...but that's not surprising.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Steep, but not at all out of line with the market. Mediocre old defensemen were making bank this year.

Wish the term were longer for that price, but watcha gonna do?

 

[Gurglesons]

Wish the Pens had pushed for the opposite, though. More term, but lower AAV.

Why? He's still a risk, not to mention the fact even a player of his offensive caliber isn't worth a long term contract. We got his best years, when we needed them, and for a reasonable price considering what he brings offensively.

Anyone saying this is a steep price is just kidding themselves. He made 4 million when he came here, the cap has gone up and he has become a better player. Honestly, if he was a UFA, I think he could easily get Shattenkirk money.

 

[DegenX]

That's certainly more than most here expected. Still, if that's what it takes, then that's what it takes.

EDIT: Also makes me wonder what Dumo is going to come in at.

 

[Captain Hook]

He was never going to sign cheap but I agree that it looks like he took a bit more money at the sacrifice of some term or maybe the Pens were scared to go too long with the term for him because of his history.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Would have wished for a longer term but lower AAV, but this is fine I guess.

 

[Peat]

How many UFA years does this eat?

Two.

Definitely not the contract I hoped for but it's not unfair.

 

[Son Goku]

Schultz was basically a top-pairing d-man and one of the top PP QB's in the league down the stretch... on a cup winning team.

It's a lot of $, but he earned it.

Agreed and the cap will only continue to rise.

 

[FreeBobbyFarnham]

If Russell gets $4M, Hainsey $3M and Girardi $3M, I guess $5.5M for Schultz is fair.

 

[Jacob]

I'm guessing they gave him several options including longer term but less AAV and he opted for this. Pretty much what a 50+ point defender is going to get these days, though, even as an RFA.

I bet Dumoulin goes longer term.

 

[wej20]

Was hoping for 4 years at 5 million.

 

[hagelin1381]

If russell gets 4M then he deserves like 6M.. Some risk but not too bad considering what other defenders are making

 

[Scandale du Jour]

He deserved to get paid, glad it is only three years. If he regresses it won't be crippling long term. If he keeps up his good play, it will be a good deal.

A little on the high side, but not a bad contract at all.

 

[BrookswasHere44]

People complaining are working so hard just to complain. Absolutely nothing to complain about on this one

 

[Gurglesons]

One thing I'll say that is a nice side effect of his getting paid this money is that if forces them to play him above Letang in some situations. Its hard to justify a 5.5 million player who is getting played to produce not playing the power play above Letang occasionally when he has that shot.

 

[deakka]

Its the price for a 50p defenseman, yes. But he wont put up 50 again when Letang is back

 

[shureshot66]

I actually prefer they went this route instead of the six years, $30M+ that Orlov got. Outside of actual star players where your hands are tied, nothing good comes from handing out long-term deals.

 

[pensfansince88]

Took a discount last year and played great. Knew it'd be at least 5m to keep him

 

[Hockeygod66]

Its the price for a 50p defenseman, yes. But he wont put up 50 again when Letang is back

Well he's a much needed insurance policy in that case.

 

[Jacob]

Its the price for a 50p defenseman, yes. But he wont put up 50 again when Letang is back

I think he might actually improve on those numbers if they keep Schultz on the #1 PP unit and put Letang on the 2nd, as they should. Letang was still glued to that first unit for pretty much every game he played last season.

 

[cassius]

Its the price for a 50p defenseman, yes. But he wont put up 50 again when Letang is back

Depends on the PP configuration.

I'm praying they see the light and recognize that Schultz is wayyy better on the PP than Tang, however, there is no guarantee.

Love Letang, but man the guy is a total idiot on the powerplay. Schultz makes all those smart little plays and kinda reminds me of a poor man's Gonchar out there in that he really knows how to run a PP

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Well he's a much needed insurance policy in that case.

^^^^

 

[Gurglesons]

Its the price for a 50p defenseman, yes. But he wont put up 50 again when Letang is back

If he plays top four minutes and plays the power play why wouldn't he be in the 30 range where he has been his entire career basically?

If he is 30-40 he is making this money regardless of where he is playing.

 

[NewAgeOutlaw]

People talk about this being an overpayment as if the cap is where it was 10 years ago.