Post
by UWSaint » Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:38 pm
I have seen this kid play a fair amount of hockey live.
There have been several NHL caliber (or tweeners) coming through here in recent years. I think he is better than all of them.
Think of the guys that have been here recently:
Jake Gardiner, Brendan Smith, Jaime McBain, Ryan McDonough, Davis Drewiske, Tom Gilbert. These guys aren't pikers.
Schultz is a great skater, high intelligence in both zones, okay size, terrific shot (not the Weber slapper, but a quick release which I think is great to run a power play as a QB).
I really like Smith and Gardiner to have good NHL careers, but I like Schultz the most. Smith has the benefit of a mean streak, but he his offense was from high risk play, which worked fine when he was a first round talent among boys but it will remain to seen how it translates in the NHL. Gardiner, too, is a first rounder, but his offense didn't really develop until his final UW season. Clear from this season that he is a keeper, but whether he can be an effective all zones all situations guy is a little less clear. He should have a downside of Tom Gilbert, though, which in the grand scheme of things isn't bad at all.
But Schultz is the complete package that I think is separated from Gardiner in his high IQ. He almost reminded me of Rafalski when he was here in terms of IQ. Head up, good anticipation, smart shots, smooth stride (but Schultz is faster). While it is always foolish to project too much just based on the college game (I thought Skinner was going to be real good), I think I've seen enough NHL-bound players go through Wisconsin in recent years to tell the difference. I think. And I think Schultz would be an unbelievably great signing and there is never enough depth or quality to ignore a guy like Schultz. He's a guy every organization should want in the pipeline and I wouldn't be surprised if he was already beyond Tanev. And there is no WAY he is under any NHL team's radar. He's pretty widely acknowledged as one of (if not *the*) top defenseman in the NCAA, and he plays in a high profile conference for a high profile program, unlike a guy like Tanev.
Hono_rary Canadian
