Ian Schultz

History

2007-08: This was Schultz’s first season with the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) and he put up decent numbers as a rookie. In 67 games he tallied 15 goals and 15 assists, with an additional nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in 16 postseason games.

2008-09: Schultz appeared in 58 games for the Calgary HItman in his second WHL season. He scored 15 goals with 26 assists and was +10 on a Calgary team that had the WHL's best record and finished first in the Central Division. Schultz was the third-most penalized player for Calgary, finishing with 127 PMs. Schultz played in all 18 games as the Hitmen reached the WHL Finals before falling to Kelowna and scored 5 goals with 7 assists and was +7 with 24 penalty minutes.

2009-10: This would signal Schultz' final season with the Hitmen; he appeared in 70 games for Calgary. He had a career-high 150 penalty minutes while adding 55 points for a Calgary team that repeated as Central Division champs and won the WHL playoff title. Schultz scored 10 of his 24 goals on the power play and had two short-handed goals. In 23 playoff games he scored 8 goals with 7 assists and was +2 with 26 PMs. Montreal acquired Schultz and forward Lars Eller from St. Louis in a trade for goalie Jaroslav Halak in June 2010.

2010-11: Schultz provided a physical presence in the Hamilton (AHL) lineup but not much of an offensive game in his first season of pro hockey. Schultz accumulated 49 PMs in 45 games and scored 3 goals with 1 assist with a -5 plus/minus for the Bulldogs. Schultz appeared in 15 of 20 playoff games for Hamilton, which advanced to the AHL playoff semifinals after finishing first in the North Division during the season. In a lower line role he scored 2 goals and was -4 with 15 PMs.

2011-12: Schultz worked hard to improve his overall game and to contribute more offensively rather than just using his fists for the Hamilton Bulldogs this season. The physical winger increased his offensive output from last season by 19 points while scoring six goals along with 17 assists and a respectable minus three rating while taking 104 PIMs (12 fighting majors) in 60 AHL games. After a knee on knee collision against the Abbotsford Heat, he missed 11 games with the knee injury but returned to finish out the season.

 

Talent Analysis

Schultz plays a physical style, drives the front of the net, plays the high energy role and will defend his teammates by dropping the gloves. He needs more improvement with his skating speed and balance while having a better defensive game and more offensive output. The big winger will need to work extra hard over the summer and report to the team's NHL training camp in top physical shape in order to continue his upward trend of improvement to have a chance of playing in the NHL.

 

Future

Schultz will probably play in the AHL for the upcoming season but could see some spot duty as an injury replacement in the NHL. The solid gritty forward has to continue improving his overall game to possibly make the NHL as a fourth line role player.