Nick Schultz, a Canadian defenseman, embarked on his professional hockey journey when he was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Born on August 25, 1982, in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan, Schultz honed his skills in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince Albert Raiders before making the leap to the NHL.
Schultz made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild during the 2001-2002 season. Over the next decade, he became a reliable presence on the Wild's blue line, known for his steady defensive play and ability to read the game. His tenure with the Wild saw him become the franchise's all-time leader in games played by a defenseman, a testament to his durability and consistency on the ice.
In February 2012, Schultz's long stint with Minnesota came to an end when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Tom Gilbert. His time with the Oilers was marked by his veteran presence on a young team, providing stability and experience to the defensive corps. Schultz played parts of three seasons with Edmonton before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in March 2014.
Schultz's stay in Columbus was brief, as he played only nine games with the Blue Jackets before entering free agency. In July 2014, he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he would spend the final three seasons of his NHL career. With the Flyers, Schultz continued to be a dependable defenseman, contributing both on and off the ice. His leadership qualities were valued in the locker room, and he played a mentoring role for younger players on the team.
Throughout his NHL career, Schultz was known for his defensive reliability rather than offensive prowess. He was a stay-at-home defenseman, focusing on shutting down opposing forwards and maintaining a strong presence in his own zone. Over 15 NHL seasons, Schultz played in 1,069 regular-season games, recording 175 points (30 goals and 145 assists).
After the 2016-2017 season, Schultz retired from professional hockey.
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