The Washington Capitals needed to add some defense after Michal Kempny suffered a torn Achilles in offseason training and they’ll pick up a former rival. Justin Schultz has agreed to a two-year contract with the Capitals that will carry a $4MM cap hit.
Schultz, 30, was a 51-point defenseman just a few years ago but has seen his offensive production almost completely dry up. When you’re supposed to be a play-driving defenseman, 12 points in 46 games just isn’t cutting it. Over the last three seasons, Schultz has played in just 138 games and has just 54 points, not enough when you also don’t provide much polish at the defensive end.
Perhaps it’s just the injuries that have sapped his production, but given how poor his possession statistics have also been it’s hard to know exactly what the Capitals are getting. For $4MM per season on a Stanley Cup contender, that’s a big risk to take.
Schultz fits in just ahead of the re-signed Brenden Dillon on the salary chart and reduces the Capitals remaining space to almost zero. Moving Kempny onto long-term injured reserve will give them a little more wiggle room, but without moving money out there isn’t a lot more the Capitals can do.
Michal Kempny was probably “training.”
I thought he got $4 million OVER two years, not per year for two years, and I was torn on whether this was an OK signing.
Wow.
Good for Schultz. Thanks for 2017. Glad the Caps want to fund your retirement.
In this year’s playoffs, Schultz was so bad he made Jack Johnson look like Victor Hedman. Looked like he had never played hockey before.
@forwhomjoshbelltolls – Make that two WOWs!
Make that 3 wows, I thought that was over 2 years not AAV as well!
And 4 wows….Caps do like to sign old dmen from the Pens.
This is what we in Edmonton were saying for years!!!!
As noted 5 wow’s. What is Washington thinking?
Is this the stupid contract of the year. Still wonder about Josh Anderson, how about a tie for now.
I reserve judgment on both of the recent signings until I see the chemistry on defense. I could still see Schultz being an asset on the second power play, but don’t necessarily see him as a positive in front of King Henrik. The Caps do like the aggressive D-Men but paid the price last year in he transition game. This team succeeds when they posses the puck and control the flow.They have gotten away from that the last two years and it cost Todd that warm spot on the bench.
This signing tell me they are depending on the bears to supply the Defense (at both forwards and Defense) and trying to use the rookie and the Old King to hold the dike. Sounds dubious yes. But it ust might work…
I hope your idea work’s.Cap’s d will have to play d this year.I think your young Russian goalie has a bright future.Forwards are getting older.Your in the same boat as pens; Trying to win now.Enjoy while you can.