Photo by: Icon Sportswire
Schultz wins the Stanley Cup
June 18, 2016 | Men's Hockey
Defenseman the 14th Badger to play for a Cup champion
MADISON, Wis. – On Saturday, Feb. 27, the Wisconsin men's hockey team was wrapping up a weekend series at Ohio State when the news came that Justin Schultz had been traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The former Badger star was 45 games into his season and had scored three goals and 10 points on the blue line. At just 25 years old, Schultz is nearing his NHL prime, but had seen his offensive numbers slip since a rookie season that saw him average over a half point per game and one in which he posted eight goals and 27 points in just 48 contests. He scored a career-high 11 goals and 33 points the following season in 2013-14, but dropped to six goals and 31 points in 2014-15 before this year's midseason trade.
He went on to skate in 18 more regular-season games with Pittsburgh, nearly equaling his Edmonton totals with a goal and eight points during that stretch.
After playing just one game in the first round of the 2016 NHL playoffs against the New York Rangers, and two games in the second round against the Washington Capitals, Schultz skated in the last six games of Pittsburgh's seven-game Eastern Conference Final series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the entire Stanley Cup Final. He finished with four assists in 15 playoff games.
The trade was a new start for the defenseman and become a fortuitous development. Following a 3-1 victory on June 13, Schultz and the Penguins won the series, 4-2, and are now the 2016 Stanley Cup champions.
Joining 13 other Badgers who played and won a Stanley Cup, Schultz becomes the first to capture the Cup since Davis Drewiske with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012.
The 14 Badger skaters on the Cup are the most among NCAA schools.
The West Kelowna, British Columbia, native skated three seasons at Wisconsin and was twice a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which goes to college hockey's top player. The two-time All-American twice led the nation's defensemen in goals and points and was the first Badger rear guard in school history to lead the team in goals when he scored 16 during the 2011-12 season. He also skated for the Badgers as a freshman in the 2010 NCAA championship game.
To win this year's Cup, Schultz and the Penguins defeated fellow Badger Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks in six games. Pavelski, the Sharks captain, led the NHL with 13 goals during the playoffs, while his 22 points were tied for second.
It has been a successful year all around for former Badgers, as John Ramage's Lake Erie Monsters captured the Calder Cup as the AHL champs, Joel Rumpel's Allen Americans won the Kelly Cup as ECHL winners and incoming Badger Dan Labosky led the USHL in scoring during the postseason to help the Tri-City Storm win the Clark Cup league champs.
Wisconsin Badgers on the Stanley Cup
Colorado Avalanche
Steve Reinprecht, 2000–01
Calgary Flames
Gary Suter, 1988–89
Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Burish, 2009–10
Detroit Red Wings
Chris Chelios, 2001–02, '07–08
Brian Rafalski, 2007–08
Los Angeles Kings
Davis Drewiske, 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
Sean Hill, 1992–93
Chris Chelios, 1985–86
Dave Maley, 1985–86
Brian Engblom, 1976–77, '77–78, '78–79
Wayne Thomas, 1972–73
New Jersey Devils
Brian Rafalski, 1999–2000, '02–03
Bruce Driver*, 1994–95
New York Rangers
Mike Richter, 1993–94
Pittsburgh Penguins
Justin Schultz, 2015–16
Paul Stanton, 1990–91, '91–92
Bob Johnson, 1990–91#, '91–92
Anaheim Ducks
Dave McNab^, 2006–07
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* alternate captain; # - head coach;Â ^ assistant GM
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The former Badger star was 45 games into his season and had scored three goals and 10 points on the blue line. At just 25 years old, Schultz is nearing his NHL prime, but had seen his offensive numbers slip since a rookie season that saw him average over a half point per game and one in which he posted eight goals and 27 points in just 48 contests. He scored a career-high 11 goals and 33 points the following season in 2013-14, but dropped to six goals and 31 points in 2014-15 before this year's midseason trade.
He went on to skate in 18 more regular-season games with Pittsburgh, nearly equaling his Edmonton totals with a goal and eight points during that stretch.
After playing just one game in the first round of the 2016 NHL playoffs against the New York Rangers, and two games in the second round against the Washington Capitals, Schultz skated in the last six games of Pittsburgh's seven-game Eastern Conference Final series win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the entire Stanley Cup Final. He finished with four assists in 15 playoff games.
The trade was a new start for the defenseman and become a fortuitous development. Following a 3-1 victory on June 13, Schultz and the Penguins won the series, 4-2, and are now the 2016 Stanley Cup champions.
Joining 13 other Badgers who played and won a Stanley Cup, Schultz becomes the first to capture the Cup since Davis Drewiske with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012.
The 14 Badger skaters on the Cup are the most among NCAA schools.
The West Kelowna, British Columbia, native skated three seasons at Wisconsin and was twice a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, which goes to college hockey's top player. The two-time All-American twice led the nation's defensemen in goals and points and was the first Badger rear guard in school history to lead the team in goals when he scored 16 during the 2011-12 season. He also skated for the Badgers as a freshman in the 2010 NCAA championship game.
To win this year's Cup, Schultz and the Penguins defeated fellow Badger Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks in six games. Pavelski, the Sharks captain, led the NHL with 13 goals during the playoffs, while his 22 points were tied for second.
It has been a successful year all around for former Badgers, as John Ramage's Lake Erie Monsters captured the Calder Cup as the AHL champs, Joel Rumpel's Allen Americans won the Kelly Cup as ECHL winners and incoming Badger Dan Labosky led the USHL in scoring during the postseason to help the Tri-City Storm win the Clark Cup league champs.
Wisconsin Badgers on the Stanley Cup
Colorado Avalanche
Steve Reinprecht, 2000–01
Calgary Flames
Gary Suter, 1988–89
Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Burish, 2009–10
Detroit Red Wings
Chris Chelios, 2001–02, '07–08
Brian Rafalski, 2007–08
Los Angeles Kings
Davis Drewiske, 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
Sean Hill, 1992–93
Chris Chelios, 1985–86
Dave Maley, 1985–86
Brian Engblom, 1976–77, '77–78, '78–79
Wayne Thomas, 1972–73
New Jersey Devils
Brian Rafalski, 1999–2000, '02–03
Bruce Driver*, 1994–95
New York Rangers
Mike Richter, 1993–94
Pittsburgh Penguins
Justin Schultz, 2015–16
Paul Stanton, 1990–91, '91–92
Bob Johnson, 1990–91#, '91–92
Anaheim Ducks
Dave McNab^, 2006–07
Â
* alternate captain; # - head coach;Â ^ assistant GM
Â
Players Mentioned
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