Former Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the 2004 draft, 8th year defenseman Jeff Schultz(55) is back in the AHL for the first time in half a dozen seasons.
For the last 7 seasons he skated all but one appearance in the NHL for 399 games scoring 11 goals and 64 assists with a mammoth +78 rating.
In 2009/2010 he was a league best +50 plus/minus.
The big big 6’6″ 225 lbs. blue liner was signed to a 4-year extension early into his restricted free agency status but was unable to sustain the numbers.
The Capitals decided to cut ties and elected to exercise their option to buy out the final season of his contract.
Soon afterwards, Los Angeles Kings stepped him offering him a one-way deal at just over the league minimum.
The 27-year old was a late cut, reassigned to minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs, where in 21 games he has a goal and an assist and is a +1.
Chances are good that he’ll live to skate his 400th game in the show but what happens next season is a total crap shot.