Free agent Justin Schultz signs new contract after rejecting Oilers’ offer!

With the 2024-25 season underway, defensemen Mark Giordano, John Klingberg, Kevin Shattenkirk and Justin Schultz remain available on the free agent market as some teams across the league are keeping an eye out for immediate help on the back end. That includes the Oilers, who were recently linked to Schultz with the hopes of bringing the blue liner back in Edmonton.

Schultz did look to be a good fit as he began his career in Edmonton in 2012-13 before moving on to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken. He was even approached in the offseason by the Oilers, who offered the 34-year-old defenseman a professional tryout contract (PTO) to attend training camp in Edmonton and have a chance to crack the roster to continue his NHL career. However, Schultz reportedly turned down the offer, wanting an NHL contract over the PTO.

But it is now too late for the Oilers if they had hoped to get back to Schultz as Steven Ellis reports on Wednesday morning that the blue liner has signed a one-year deal with HC Lugano in Switzerland’s top league, the National League (NL).

“Justin is a two-way defender. We are confident that his experience can help us in the second half of the season,” HC Lugano General Manager Hnat Domenichelli sais.

Last season with the Kraken, Schultz put up seven goals and 26 points in 70 games, but also recorded a -23 rating. He is however a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins back in 2016 and 2017 and wants to keep playing. No matter where.