The Prince of Power-Plays

Justin Schultz will be playing this season -- and for the foreseeable future -- under a mammoth magnifying glass.

And he has nobody to blame but himself.

The 22-year native of West Kelowna certainly got the attention he seemed to be craving this off-season. Coming off an impressive -- but hardly unprecedented (Free-Agent Matt Carle, for example, put up similar collegiate numbers at that age) -- three years at the University of Wisconsin, Schultz had his pick of the litter among NHL franchises.

A 2008 second-round pick of Anaheim, the defenseman took advantage of a Collective Bargaining Agreement loophole that permitted him to explore unrestricted free-agency after refusing to come to terms with the Ducks.

This year's free-agent market is lacking in blueliners with offensive upside, so as many as 26 NHL teams punched Schultz’s digits into their speed dials. And who is he to say no to his adoring public?

Interested parties were invited to court Schultz like a medieval princess that just hit puberty. Make your offer and go sit by the phone. Except you, Columbus, you're just wasting everybody’s time.

Knowing the ball was in his court, Schultz drafted his own guidelines: He was only going to a team willing to guarantee him top-four minutes and a spot on the power-play… as a rookie. And still few balked. So the Prince of Power-Plays kept pushing.

If teams weren’t already being strung along, the rearguard announced Saturday (the last day before real NHL players hit the open market) was decision day. So members of the sports media woke up early to compulsively rap the refresh on their Twitter feeds, but Schultz still had another attention-grabbing tactic up his sleeve.

Like his own personal draft lottery, Schultz one-by-one informed teams he wouldn’t be taking his talents to their backyard. Nice try, Toronto. Sorry about your luck, Detroit.

That he chose Edmonton (the equivalent of the belle of the ball choosing the pimply, pre-pubescent kid in the corner) is irrelevant. Whichever team he decided on, he was leaving 25 frustrated suitors and fanbases to steam over how much time they spent on his façade (including half the remaining Canadian contingent.)

Maybe the young Oilers develop into a serious contender; maybe not. But one thing’s for sure, everyone (teammates and opponents included) will be watching and many will be hoping he fails. Hope you’re ready for it, Justin.