Flyers prospect watch: Nick Schultz finding his way in the development world

Dave Isaac | NHL Writer

PHILADELPHIA — No more charter flights with teammates and catered meals. Nick Schultz flies commercial now.

The former NHL defenseman is in his first season as a player development coach for the Flyers and he’s traveling the globe to follow blueliners the Flyers drafted or signed who are still playing amateur hockey.

“It’s a little different but it’s been good,” Schultz said. “It’s fun to go out and see the kids, see where they’re playing and kind of build a relationship with them and have that trust factor. I meet their coaches and talk to them and just make sure we’re on the same page with where they need to get better and ultimately take that next step. For most of those guys it’s getting ready to turn pro, come up and play in Lehigh and ultimately trying to get them to the next level to be a Flyer one day. It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”

Schultz, 37, was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2000. He was playing for the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders at the time and went back for one more season after the Wild selected him before he cracked the NHL.

There was no team representative flying to see him play in his home province of Saskatchewan and keep constant tabs, but his relative silence lasted only one year. Others take longer to develop and the Flyers are among the teams putting more money into development staffs so players don’t go too long without hearing from the NHL club.

After all, the NHL’s recent trend the last few years means younger players on cheaper, entry-level contracts are more important than ever before. So developing players to make an impact before they’re of legal age to drink a beer has become a necessity.

“These development teams now, it’s neat that guys are doing it and it gives myself, an ex-(player), something to do too,” Schultz joked. “It’s nice. I enjoy going to Allentown. I try to get down there for one or two practices a week depending on the week and what they have. Just to see those guys and get on the ice has been fun and to be in contact with them and to do the travel and watch some of these kids play in college or junior, it’s been fun. You try to help them or be there for them in any way you can do for them.”

This week’s prospect report dives into the play of four defensemen who Schultz, a veteran of 1,066 NHL games, has worked with so far.

*statistics as of Nov. 3

Mark Friedman, defenseman, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Age: 23

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds

Acquired: 2014 third-round pick (86th overall)

This season: 10 games, 0 goals, 3 assists

The skinny: This is a contract year for the uber-confident defenseman who has been on the fringe of being an NHLer for a while now. He got a game at the end of last season as a taste of the action but for him to become a regular with the Flyers would take some roster attrition. It wasn’t long ago that the Flyers’ prospect pool was paper thin. Now they’ve drafted and developed so many that Friedman will have a hard time cracking the NHL in Philadelphia.

Schultz’s take: “Those guys kind of realize where they’re at and just play. Go out and play, keep developing. He’s a good player, moves well. He’s a good skater, makes good plays. He’s kind of a little pest out there. He’s kind of in guys’ face and stuff. He’s playing well. They’ve got a good group down there so it’s a lot of good young prospects there. It’s a good mix. Those guys can’t get discouraged. They’ve got to keep on playing and know that they’re gonna get an opportunity at some point.”

Wyatt Kalynuk, defenseman, University of Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)

Age: 22

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Acquired: 2017 seventh-round pick, (196th overall)

This season: 8 games, 1 goal, 6 assists

The skinny: A classic late bloomer, Kalynuk has been a force in the last two years for Wisconsin after putting up pedestrian numbers in the USHL. He’s now the team’s captain as a junior and playing alongside 2017 Florida Panthers pick Tyler Inamoto in a second-pair role and power-play quarterback.

Schultz’s take: “He’s good. They’ve got some high-end guys on that time with (Montreal Canadiens draftee Cole) Caufield and (Los Angeles Kings draftee Alex) Turcotte and some of those guys. They’ve got a good power play and he quarterbacks that. He’s a good skater and moves the puck well. Makes good plays. When you’re playing with good guys like that, it makes your job a little bit easier. He’s a solid player and probably another guy who can maybe hopefully turn pro next year.”

Ronnie Attard, defenseman, Western Michigan University Broncos (NCAA)

Age: 20

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 207 pounds

Acquired: 2019 third-round pick (72nd overall)

This season: 8 games, 3 goals, 1 assist

The skinny: Another late bloomer, Attard was in his last year of draft eligibility when the Flyers selected him. He put up big numbers last season in the USHL and is known for the offensive side of his game, but he won’t be the oldest player on the ice anymore in the NCAA. There will be a development curve at this level but ultimately his offensive side might be what gets him to the pros.

Schultz’s take: “He’s kind of raw. He had a good year in the USHL and got picked and now college is another step, another adjustment or whatever. Western Mcihigan hasn’t got off to the start that they want but he’s played lots. When I was there he played with Mattias Samuelsson (Kjell’s son and a Buffalo draft pick). He’s a big guy, right-shot which people love. He plays a hard game and he can shoot the puck. He’s gonna be good, too. They’ve got lots of good young prospects coming up. It’s fun to see these guys play and how they’re gonna develop over the next few years.”

Mason Millman, defenseman, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Age: 18

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 176 pounds

Acquired: 2019 fourth-round pick (103rd overall)

This season: 17 games, 5 goals, 5 assists

The skinny: He was impressive as the youngest draft pick in training camp, especially in his skating. He was sent back to junior before he could play in a preseason game but the experience of being with players a little older and bigger than he’s typically playing against may have had an effect on the early part of his season.

Schultz’s take: “When he first went down from NHL camp I think it’s an adjustment. They have lots of guys, from talking to his coach there, that came down at the same time. It’s kind of like you get back there and you think all of a sudden you’re better, like you’re too good, you know, and that’s not necessarily what he was thinking but it takes time to kind of settle in. I think the first game he was minus-4 and it kind of built up on him early. Then he kind of settled in. That was the majority of their team. They kind of settled in after a couple games and now he’s been playing quite a bit better.”

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Dave Isaac joined the Courier-Post in April 2012 after covering the Flyers for three seasons elsewhere. Contact him on Twitter @davegisaac or by email at disaac@gannett.com.

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