Washington Capitals add Justin Schultz to their defense

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Justin Schultz.

With Michal Kempny on injured reserve for a long time and Brenden Dillon re-signed, the Washington Capitals had to add another defenseman. They solved this problem by signing a former Pittsburgh Penguin in Justin Schultz. We don’t always have pictures of Sidney Crosby on this site but soon we’ll one day have a picture of Schultz next to Alex Ovechkin.

The Capitals signed Schultz to a two year, $8 million contract that will carry an average annual value (AAV) and cap hit of $4 million. Schultz is a 30 year old defenseman that recorded 12 points in 46 games with the Penguins last season with three goals and nine assists. He ranked second among Penguins defenseman in power play time on ice per game with 2:45. Additionally, Schultz ranked second in power play assists with six.

The six foot two, 193 pound defenseman recorded the second fewest on ice goals against at five on five among Penguins defensemen with at least 40 games last season allowing 33 goals against. Over the last five seasons with the Penguins beginning in 2015-16, Schultz recorded 113 points ranking second among Penguins defenseman despite ranking fourth in games played with 234. He’s scored 22 goals and 91 assists.

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The Kelowna, B.C. native had his best offensive season in 2016-17 where he set career highs with 12 goals, 39 assists and 51 points, tying seventh in both goals and points that season among all NHL defensemen.

Schultz also played for the Edmonton Oilers spanning 482 career games between them and the Penguins. In his career Schultz has 214 points with 40 goals and 164 assists. Since he entered the NHL in 2012-13, Schultz’s 0.44 points per game is tied for 35th most among defensemen.

Schultz has won the Stanley Cup twice in back to back years with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. Schultz has recorded 29 points with six goals and 23 assists in 56 playoff games. Since making his playoff debut in 2016, Schultz’s 56 games rank 22nd in the NHL among defensemen.

Schultz was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round at 43rd overall in the 2008 NHL Draft before signing with the Oilers as a collegiate free agent on June 29, 2012.

With Schultz in the fold the Caps hope this is an upgrade to their defense. Next year’s defensive pairs will probably be Brenden Dillon and John Carlson up top and Dmitry Orlov and Schultz in the middle pair with Jonas Siegenthaler and Nick Jensen on the bottom pair.

Welcome to D.C. Justin Schultz!