On Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford announced that the team has re-signed defenseman Justin Schultz to a one-year deal with a $1.4 million AAV.
Welcome back! The #Pens have re-signed defenseman Justin Schultz to a one-year contract. https://t.co/ssyFn0T7aQ pic.twitter.com/goGW2sVadM
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 13, 2016
Schultz, 26, arrived in Pittsburgh on February 27 after a trade with the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2016 3rd round draft pick. In 18 regular season games with the Penguins, Schultz tallied eight points and a plus-7 rating. During the Penguins’ 2015-16 Stanley Cup championship run, Schultz appeared in 15 games, adding four assists and a plus-1 rating, while aiding a Penguins defensive core that lost Trevor Daley to injury during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks 43rd overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Schultz never came to terms with the club and later signed with the Oilers as a free agent on June 30, 2012, after completing his third year of college hockey at University of Wisconsin (WCHA).
During his last two seasons as a Badger, Schultz was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist. In 121 games at the college level, Schultz scored 40 goals and 113 points. In four seasons at the NHL level, the Kelowna, BC native has appeared in 266 games, tallying 29 goals and 109 points.
