Sarge!!!!!! He leads the entire NHL in plus/minus rating. He is ahead of Alex Ovechkin in plus/minus on our team.
He is quiet. He doesn’t toot his own horn. He does his job and he does it very well.
So I will toot his horn.
We are proud of Jeff; his development; his acumen to make smart plays; and his ability to be on the ice and make good things happen for us.
We think we have a great group of young developing D men and we are quite happy with Jeff Schultz this season.
Go Caps! And thank goodness we never listen to some of the “experts” that call into radio shows after our games. Just saying…”Jeff Schultz leads the entire NHL in plus/minus rating.”
Tags: Jeff Schultz, Ted Leonsis, Ted's Take, Washington Capitals
Thank goodness this team doesn’t listen to their owner and use their killer instinct to win games 8-1 snark snark snark.
Right on! He’s getting more and more ice time lately, which is usually the best way to measure a Defenseman’s importance to his team.
I was just talking about Schultz’ impressive season this morning. He’s only been in the minus ONCE over his last 22 games. He regularly makes smart plays.
Some other unsung Caps heroes on the blue line (when healthy):
Pothier has gone 14 straight games without being in the minus.
Poti’s been even or better over his past 7 games.
Erskine has only been in the minus 3 times over his past 18 games.
Hi Ted. I just called the LA Kings to inquire how to get tickets for the NHL Draft in June. I was told by their representative that tickets would only be provided to their season ticket holders and not the general public. I asked him why and was told that with the future players at the draft, and the team personnel, they would not have room because of “all the Canadians coming in”. I expressed my doubts about them being filled to capacity and was told “Well this is L.A.”
Is this really how the NHL does business, allowing the host team to freeze out fans who are not the home team season ticket holders or?
I have been to a draft before and even with “All the Canadians” (and all the Czechs, and all the Russians, and all the Finns for that matter) the building was nowhere near full.
Can I get “Ted’s Take” on this issue?
I’d let you toot my horn, Ted.
“And thank goodness we never listen to some of the “experts” that call into radio shows after our games. Just saying…”
Um, Ted… I thought you declared snark dead early last year: http://www.tedstake.com/2009/04/08/calling-the-bottom-the-death-of-snark/
The anti-Schultz bandwagon is completely different than the on-ice performance. I’ve always liked his game, and GMGM & Coach BB said this guy was good and getting better.
*applause*!
Go Jeff!
People seem hung up on Jeff’s performance last year in the playoffs. It was pretty clear he was hurt then, because he wasn’t performing as well as he had shown before. Now he’s healthy and doing very well. I sit close down at the Caps D end, and get to watch a lot of defense. (As a former goalie, I keep a critical eye on D-men.) He’s very good at moving people around, and I’ve caught him driving shoulders into cutting wingers who had their heads down. Overall he’s a very bright spot on a team of bright spots.
He’s done better this year, but after 2 full years he should have been in Hershey, I’ll wait to pass judgement on the year until AFTER he plays in the playoffs….where a team aspiring for a Cup, thats really the only true test.
i blasted this guy, like many others, all season last year.
the first game against the rangers in the playoffs last year was his lowest point, and we were all begging for him to go..Well it looks like WE WERE WRONG, especially me. The really big test will be the playoffs but I have not caught myself yelling at the screen even once this year. Hope he keeps it up….Good for you Schultzie!!!
signed, too quick to judge??
As a side note, 3 seasons of consistency have finally silenced me. I was very very slow to get on board
(after the tear down/rebuild) but you are doing a great job with building up the fans and putting out a great product. As a lifelong fan, thank you. This has been a very enjoyable season so far, with hopefully more to come. KUTGW..
I am an admitted Schultz basher. I will state that up front. That being said, I am happy to see him leading a statistical category - I would be happy if it’s anyone on our team. However, the +/- is one of the most overrated statistical categories there is. While I have noted great improvement in Schultz over the previous years, there is still some parts of his game play that are sorely lacking. Until Schultz can demonstrate in the post-season that he won’t manage to break his ankles on breakaway plays and can use better decision making skills, I am not buying what you’re trying to sell. Let’s not put the cart too much before the horse, here.
count me among those who think that jeff has improved this year. that said, he still needs to be more assertive in his own end…and he needs someone to help him work on his shots from the point (people in my beer league have harder shots…that’s not hyperbole, it’s fact). but jeff is sound positionally - and he is getting better at making plays to get the puck out of his end. where he is still weak is in defending one-on-ones and in keeping the crease clear. while i wasn’t quite ready to give up on him last year…i thought he was easily our worst defenseman. he is now show EXTERNALLY what I suppose the coaches have seen at practice over the last few seasons: the potential to be a steady, if unspectacular, rear guard. You are spot on - the future looks VERY bright for this D corp. With Alzner or Carlson replacing Pothier next season…the evolution will continue.
We always call Shultz, “Tree”…because he’s like the big guy from Mystery, Alaska. Always wanted to get Russell Crowe to come in and tell him that he’s a ‘Big Guy’ and get him to start playing like one.
Glad he’s finally playing like a ‘Big Guy’.
Hey Ted, nice thoughts. It’s funny to think back two summers ago, after we got bounced out of the playoffs there was a joke that Sarge should be locked in a cage through the summer and only be allowed to eat raw meat and protien shakes so he could become a heavy hitter. It was a pretty funny joke. The best part is he’s coming along regardless of all us “experts” know.
P.S. By experts I just mean fans who think the know it all, not actual experts.
Hey Ted,
Careful, those misinformed fans are still fans. I wouldn’t make a point of pushing back when they throw silly opinions around. Just be glad they care enough to make the passionate plea to get rid of your best stay-at-home defenseman.
And congrats on doing such a great job running the team. Looking for another W tonight. Have a great weekend!
I couldn’t agree more. Jeff doesn’t make fancy plays but he makes the right plays. It’s great to see him progress in his career.
Jeff might be the most improved Capital this season. He has improved in several areas where he needed to.
He obviously worked on strength in the off-season. He is looking to put the puck on the net more in the offensive zone this year instead of just pushing it around the boards and forcing the forwards to have to chase it and regroup again. He has realized that a huge man that doesn’t skate with a ton of speed has to play physically in his own end and shut guys down on the boards. His contract, at least this year, is very easy on the salary cap. Jeff will probably take over for one of our $2 million range dmen next season. Cheap days are over.
Jeff’s value will soar if he continues to take his physical game to the next level (he has elevated it, but it can go further for a guy his size). Playoff performance will be the real tale … isn’t that why we are all here? All of this is a prelude.
Keep your star rising Jeff. Our blueline looks great for the next few years …