EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers traded defenceman Nick Schultz to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
In exchange, the Oilers acquired a fifth-round draft pick in 2014.
The 31-year-old said General Manager Craig MacTavish let him know last week that teams were interested in him and that he’d likely be traded.
“It started heating up after the Olympic break… he said he had teams calling. He didn’t mention what teams.”
“He was going to try to find a good fit for me, and wanted to put me in a good situation, give me a good opportunity, so I respect that.”
Schultz said the way he found out about this trade was quite different than when he was traded from Minnesota to the Oilers in February 2012.
“This one I kind of knew coming in, was prepared. I kind of prepared, myself, my family, heading into today.”
“Family-wise, it’s never easy having to leave your family behind,” he added. “It’ll be part of the transition.”
Schultz will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
“Given the circumstance, with Nick being a UFA, it’s in our best interest, as well as Nick’s, to work out a deal somewhere that enables him to …compete for the playoffs and enables us… to get some assets back,” explained MacTavish.
Schultz said Columbus is a good opportunity.
“A know a few of the guys there. So, it’s exciting. They’re right in the playoff mix.”
“I’ve got a chance to go play some games that mean something right now. At my stage of my career right now, it’s exciting.”
Still, he’ll miss wearing the Oilers’ colours.
“I grew up an Oilers fan, as a young kid living in Saskatchewan, so for me to come here and put on the jersey was exciting, it was an honour.”
“It’s frustrating, right now leaving… It’s been frustrating hockey wise the last couple of years. We should be in a lot better position than we are today as I’m kind of walking out of here.”
Still, he’s leaving with great memories.
“It’s a great place to live, great fans, and it’s been good for me and my family to live here, it’s been first class.”
Earlier Wednesday, the Oilers traded Ales Hemsky to the Ottawa Senators for two draft picks.
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