Introducing... Nick Schultz on the Power Play

Subject: Introducing... Nick Schultz on the Power Play Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:46 am

From the Strib...

Introducing ... Nick Schultz on the power play

The defenseman will be on the second power-play unit.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune
Last update: October 2, 2009 - 10:54 PM

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Since the lockout, Wild defenseman Nick Schultz can count on no hands how many times he has played the power play.

"My first couple years here, I got a little bit of time -- not a lot," Schultz said. "The last five years, I haven't played it at all."

But tonight, when the Wild opens the season against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Schultz will be on the second power-play unit with defense partner Kim Johnsson.

"It's something that's different," said Schultz, the Wild's all-time leader in games played (527) who hasn't had a power-play point since Jan. 17, 2004, and has two goals and five assists on the power play in his seven-year career.

"But in practice now, as defensemen, we're handling the puck more than we have in past. In the past, a lot of times, we got the puck and we just had to fire it off the boards.

"With [former coach Jacques Lemaire], he was so concerned about conserving certain guys to play defense and the penalty kill, I don't think he wanted guys getting the power play in their head. Now we're actually making more plays. So it's helped. But it'll take some time to get used to playing the power play."

In Schultz's first offseason meeting with Chuck Fletcher, Schultz said the new GM asked if he was capable of playing the second power-play unit. Fletcher wanted to get grittier on the blue line, and to do that, he needed to sacrifice power-play specialists Marc-Andre Bergeron and Kurtis Foster for rugged Greg Zanon and Shane Hnidy.

"It's definitely something I've done before," Schultz said. "Growing up in junior, I played the power play all the time. I guess we'll see how it goes once the season starts."

Schultz is mobile and has a decent shot, but he never looked comfortable on the power play during the preseason and one wonders how long a trial period he'll get.

Coach Todd Richards is using Schultz at point over forwards Eric Belanger and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. "We'll try to put out our best personnel -- whoever that is," Richards said.

Watching his back

If Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jason Chimera thinks he's going to get Belanger to drop the gloves tonight, he can think again.

"I'm not going to fight him. I've never fought in the NHL. Why should I fight him?" Belanger said.

Chimera, hit from behind by Belanger in an exhibition game last month, sustained a concussion and stiff neck. He's OK now, but he's maintained Belanger's hit was dirty and hasn't returned Belanger's call to apologize. "I said what needed to be said. I've moved on," Belanger said.

Chimera told the Colubus Dispatch Friday he won't go out of his way to target Belanger. "You can't get too excited or you will get yourself running around, out of position," Chimera said. "If the hit is there I will make the hit, but if it's not there, I'm not going to run around just to try and get back at him."

Richards said: "I think that's over with and done."

But even with Benoit Pouliot ready to return from a groin injury, Richards may skate 6-8 defenseman John Scott as Belanger's left wing tonight.

"He has an element that we don't necessarily have on our team," Richards said, referring to Scott's ability to fight. "And going into other teams' buildings, and Columbus is going to be one and there's going to be other places this year, you need that element on the bench. But it'll be a game-day decision."

Travel adjustments

Under Lemaire, the Wild practiced in the road city after flying there in the morning. Under Richards, the Wild, like most teams, will practice at home, then fly to the road city.

"The rationale is that we're in our own building and have better resources," Fletcher said. "Players can get treatment with our own people, work with our strength coach, get stretched out properly, hydrate properly. I feel we should be able to reduce some of these wear-and-tear injuries."

Added Richards: "It's easier for everybody. When you're in your own building, you have access to things that on the road you don't have access to."

It's the same reason the Wild will now practice at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights when Xcel Energy Center is unavailable. The team used to practice at Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis on those occasions, but players used to drive to Parade and then go on their merry way after practice.

Now they'll bus back to the arena for treatment and workouts.

Posts : 274 Join date : 2009-09-20

I found the last part of the article interesting about practice. Under the Lemaire era, players just seemed to do as they pleased (leave after practice, practice when they want to, etc.)...

Glad to see that the new regime seems to have control over everyone; something that didn't seem to happen under the old one.

Posts : 199 Join date : 2009-09-20

Quote :: "With [former coach Jacques Lemaire], he was so concerned about conserving certain guys to play defense and the penalty kill, I don't think he wanted guys getting the power play in their head. Now we're actually making more plays. So it's helped. But it'll take some time to get used to playing the power play."

A player can't have the PP and the PK in their heads at the same time? How did Koivu do it?

Posts : 9 Join date : 2009-09-20

shmiddy wrote:: A player can't have the PP and the PK in their heads at the same time? How did Koivu do it?

The difference between Koivu and Schultz is that Koivu has shown the ability to score in the NHL. *insert Lemaire held Schultz back offensively line here*

Apparently JL held back EVERYONE offensively according to the JL haters... Razz

Last edited by TaLoN on Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:21 pm; edited 1 time in total

Damn Double Post....

Ugh.. make that triple!?

TaLoN wrote:: Apparently JL held back EVERYONE offensively according to the JL haters...

Bouchard was going to thrive once JL left facepalm

lolwat wrote:

TaLoN wrote:: Apparently JL held back EVERYONE offensively according to the JL haters...

Bouchard was going to thrive once JL left facepalm

Yeah, especially since he's back to his "natural position" at center... Laughing

TaLoN wrote:

lolwat wrote:

TaLoN wrote:: Apparently JL held back EVERYONE offensively according to the JL haters...

Bouchard was going to thrive once JL left facepalm

Yeah, especially since he's back to his "natural position" at center... Laughing

Because being ~~ineffective~~ useless at back-checking and face-offs makes you a better center than winger Laughing

Posts : 199 Join date : 2009-09-20

Well, JL wasn't holding Shulttz back on the PP tonight. I don't think it's his thing.

Posts : 274 Join date : 2009-09-20

shmiddy wrote:: Well, JL wasn't holding Shulttz back on the PP tonight. I don't think it's his thing.

You can say that again. Man he looks awkward on the PP. Totally doesn't look comfortable.

Posts : 199 Join date : 2009-09-20

I don't care if he scored last night. I stand by my comment. He did position himself well for that goal though.

Posts : 19 Join date : 2009-10-17

Wild_State_of_Hockey wrote:: I found the last part of the article interesting about practice. Under the Lemaire era, players just seemed to do as they pleased (leave after practice, practice when they want to, etc.)...

Glad to see that the new regime seems to have control over everyone; something that didn't seem to happen under the old one.

You must have missed Russo saying that the players split up after the Sharks game because some went to the 49ers game while others did something else.

Lastly, if I remember correctly -- players like Rolston, had to beg Lemaire for optional practices and days off because Lemaire was having them practice almost every day. I think Lemaire was more heavy handed than Richards seem to be.

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