Former Edmonton Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz has had quite the season. Full of ups-and-downs, he went from the most-hated defender on the Oilers roster to a third-pairing Penguins defenseman who went on to become a Stanley Cup champion.
In an interview with the Post-Gazette, Schultz discussed his new-found second chance with the Penguins, winning the Cup and what went wrong in Edmonton.
According to Schultz, who answered the question of why it didn’t work out with Edmonton, a lot of his struggles came with confidence, and implied that the fans and the media did not help him in that category.
"It’s tough to say. The fans started getting on me. The media is crazy there. It’s a lot of attention. You have to expect that. But once the fans [started] turning on me, I don’t think there’s any coming back from that. I couldn’t find any consistency in Edmonton for whatever reason. I don’t know. It just wasn’t the right fit. i’ve moved on.” – Justin Schultz"
In a way, there is something there that sympathizers can understand. From the moment Schultz joined the Oilers after playing in the NCAA for the Wisconsin Badgers, he was expected to work wonders. He was even dubbed “Norris-worthy” by former General Manager Craig MacTavish.
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Though he did say that he wanted to sign with Edmonton because “it was the best opportunity” to “play right away, play a lot of minutes,” a young defenseman cannot have that kind of weight on his shoulders, especially on a franchise where every new piece is pressured to be the one that turns around the Edmonton Oilers’ losing culture.
Is there something to what he is saying? Yes, and no.
The fans and the media are tough in Edmonton. While it is not correct to throw fans under the bus for your struggles, it is a bit understandable. With the fans trashing him, calling him names, hating on him and making him public enemy number one, let alone requesting he be traded, Schultz’s confidence was surely shot down. Take that, and five coaches in a span of four years, and you get poor development and no improvement.
With Pittsburgh, his numbers looked much better, due to the fact that he played third-pairing minutes (where he belongs) and happened to do bigger things in a smaller role. Schultz said he couldn’t fathom winning the Cup years ago, but realized how special Pittsburgh was when he arrived, even though he is playing less minutes.
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On the bright side, Schultz seems to find himself in a better place.
“I love it here. I love the city. I love the team. I love the rink. I love everything,” Schultz said. “I’m playing less minutes, but I think I’m playing well with those minutes. I’m a plus player right now. I’m helping the team I think.”