After days of negotiations and a process that was more befitting of “The Bachelor” than a free agent pursuit, Justin Schultz has made his decision to sign with the Edmonton Oilers.
Through the afternoon, Schultz started letting suitors know they were out of the running. First it was the New York Rangers, then the Toronto Maple Leafs, and ultimately turning down the Senators, Canucks, and Wild until finally settling on the Oilers. Schultz will join Edmonton after being the best player at the University of Wisconsin last season.
The courtship by most teams in the league to woo Schultz to their side is unlike anything we’ve seen recently and for good reason. With Schultz having to sign a two-year, entry-level deal at a fixed cost, it helped bring virtually every team out of the woodwork thanks to him being cost-controlled.
Now Schultz will look to improve the Oilers defense and team up with the likes of Nail Yakupov, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jordan Eberle to become a playoff team and force in the Western Conference. If the Oilers wanted to recreate their dynasty rosters of the 80s, they’re doing a hell of a job trying to make it happen.