The Rangers’ delegation that featured head coach John Tortorella in a prominent role made its pitch to University of Wisconsin free agent defenseman Justin Schultz yesterday, stressing the opportunity the Blueshirts grant young players out of college to make an immediate mark as well as the opportunity to join a Stanley Cup contender on the Broadway stage.
Schultz, an Anaheim 2008 second-round draft selection who became a free agent on Monday after using a mechanism within the collective bargaining agreement previously utilized by winger Blake Wheeler and defenseman Mike Van Ryn, played three seasons at Wisconsin, the first year of which he skated with current Rangers Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan.
The Rangers, who integrated Michigan’s Carl Hagelin and Boston College’s Chris Kreider into prominent roles within months (or days) of their leaving school, have a gaping hole on the right side of their second defense pair that features Marc Staal on the left and that Schultz, who will turn 22 next week, would be given every opportunity to earn.
A native of Kelowna, British Columbia, Schultz is entertaining presentations at his agents’ Newport Sports offices just outside Toronto from a selected group of five teams of which the Rangers are the only U.S.-based club.
The Canucks, Oilers, Senators and Maple Leafs also have been invited into the process from among the two dozen clubs that expressed interest in the 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman with considerable offensive upside.
Under terms of the CBA, Schultz must sign a two-year Entry Level contract for up to a base of $925,000 (that can include a $92,500 signing bonus) plus performance bonuses worth up to an additional $2.85 million. The contract would necessarily include a minor league clause under which he would receive $67,500 if sent to the AHL.
McDonagh, who spent a half season in the AHL before joining the Rangers midway through 2010-11 and blossoming into a first-pair staple in his sophomore pro season, is believed to have joined in the recruiting process.
It is expected Schultz will make a decision before the NHL’s free agent market opens on Sunday, though he is not permitted to sign a contract until that time.
There are few— if any —right-handed defensemen set to hit the market whose combination of talent and expected price appeal to Rangers general manager Glen Sather and his staff.
The Rangers have just under $21 million in cap space available under the $70.2 million ceiling set for next season, though the cap is sure to be recalculated and likely redefined by the CBA that will be negotiated and go into effect before the 2012-13 season opens.
The Rangers’ projected $49.2 million payroll includes just one goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist; three healthy defensemen in Staal, McDonagh and Dan Girardi; 10 forwards and the buyout charge applied to Chris Drury.
The Rangers will attempt to sign impending restricted free agent defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a new contract that likely will be for two years in the range of $1.75-$2.25 million per season.