The Penguins re-signed defenseman Justin Schultz to a one-year deal, general manager Jim Rutherford announced today.
Schultz, who made $3.9 million last season while splitting time between Edmonton and Pittsburgh, will earn $1.4 million during the coming season.
The bargain signing reinforces a Pens defense thinned by the departure of Ben Lovejoy. “The Reverend” inked a three-year contract with New Jersey worth $8 million on July 1.
A smooth skater and skilled offensive defenseman, Schultz performed well after arriving from Edmonton on February 27 for a third-round pick. In 18 regular-season games with the Pens, the former University of Wisconsin star tallied a goal and eight points to go with a sparkling plus-7.
The 25-year-old dressed in 15 playoff games for the black and gold–including each game of the Stanley Cup Finals–and tallied four assists. Schultz averaged a shade over 13 minutes of ice time during the postseason.
The Kelowna, B.C. native likely will join incumbents Kris Letang, Trevor Daley, Brian Dumoulin, Olli Maatta, and Ian Cole in the top six. Perennial prospect Derrick Pouliot figures to be in the mix as well.
Free-agent pickups Cameron Gaunce, Stuart Percy, Chad Ruhwedel, and David Warsofsky–along with AHL holdovers Tim Erixon and Steve Oleksy–provide organizational depth.
Cullen Still in Play
Rutherford confirmed that he’s made an offer to Matt Cullen, the ageless wonder who played such a pivotal role in the Pens’ recent Stanley Cup triumph.
“We have an offer out there for Matt Cullen,” Rutherford said. “It’s certainly not a number that justifies his season this (past) year, but it’s what we have left in the cap.”
Among other clubs, the Wild have shown interest in signing the 39-year-old forward. Cullen hails from Virginia, Minnesota.
In other free-agent news, the Pens signed ex-Florida forward Garrett Wilson to a one-year, two-way deal on July 7. Wilson, 25, would earn $575,000 at the NHL level.
Noted for his physical style, the 6’2″ 199-pounder notched 23 goals with San Antonio (AHL) in 2014-15. He played in 34 regular-season games and six playoff games for the Panthers over the past three seasons.
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