Maple Leafs are on defenceman Justin Schultz’s shortlist of six clubs: Cox

Today’s the day for the Maple Leafs to woo Justin Schultz.

It’s believed 24 teams asked for the opportunity to make a pitch to the University of Wisconsin defenceman, who will become a free agent on Sunday, and the Leafs were one of the teams that made a short list that is believed to have five or six other clubs.

Having won very similar battles for Tyler Bozak and Jonas Gustavsson in recent years, Brian Burke and Co. have some experience in these matters, although the formalized way in which the 22-year-old Schultz and Newport Sports are receiving suitors is a little different.

The money and bonuses will be exactly the same from all the teams, so it’s the intangibles that will decide where the rearguard decides to play. He knows Leaf coach Randy Carlyle from prospects camps in Anaheim, and if he had any problems with Carlyle, the Leafs wouldn’t have made the shortlist. It’s believed Carlyle is convinced Schultz can play right away in the NHL, although it’s mandatory that the contract the B.C. native eventually signs will be for two years and a two-way deal, with both an NHL and AHL salary.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/...-six-clubs-cox

Apparently Justin Schultz will announce the team he will sign with some time tomorrow. All the scuttlebutt floating around seems to point to Edmonton.

If Schultz goes with Edmonton he will have all the chance to rapidly become the No. 1 guy on their defense at least with the PP if not he whole defence. Playing with Hall, RNH, Eberle and Yakupov would certainly give him guys to rack up points with and grow with. The only other team that he could step into that roll might be Minnesota. He might have a tough time making the team in Vancouver and even with the Rangers he would be hard pressed to surpass Delzotto initially.