Points only: Justin Schultz or Jared Spurgeon?

[Lint07]

So I have the opportunity to either draft Justin Schultz (6M$) or trade for Jared Spurgeon (5.5M$).

Schultz is locked on the 2nd PP in PIT while Spurgeon gets 1st PP time in Minny but I could have Schultz for free while Spurgeon would cost me. However Schultz seems to be injury prone these last two years.

How much overall is Spurgeon an upgrade over Schultz to you? Would it be worth it to spend assets on him instead?

Thanks!

[Eskimo Brother]

Can you find a 30point D elsewhere for cheaper and use the savings elsewhere?

[mounD]

Interesting question. Both players are 29 year old point-producing Dmen in a contract year, and both should be behind other options for prime PP1 deployment. I'm thinking Spurgeon ends up behind Dumba and Suter for PP minutes, while Schultz has Letang pretty well cemented on the PP1 unit. The Wild have been known to run two more balanced PP units and split the ice time, so that may not be as big a detriment for Spurgeon.

I think Spurgeon is the safer bet to put up 40 points, but I'm not sure there's much upside beyond that for either guy. I guess it depends on what you'd be giving up to acquire Spurgeon, as I think both players will end up high 30s / low 40s.

[Lint07]

Can you find a 30point D elsewhere for cheaper and use the savings elsewhere?

Productive defensemen are really hard to find in our league. We are 28 teams with 4 D in the lineup each.

[Eskimo Brother]

Schultz would be my pick then.

[rufio.85]

Give me Justin Schultz, even with the injuries.
I think his upside is higher, he has a better cast of players to distribute the puck and he has less competition for potential 1st PP minutes.

[mounD]

Give me Justin Schultz, even with the injuries.
I think his upside is higher, he has a better cast of players to distribute the puck and he has less competition for potential 1st PP minutes.

This is an important point. Schultz is basically one injury away from being a really, really productive option. Spurgeon would probably need a couple injuries to hit Dumba and Suter to have the same kind of upside. So I think with Schultz there is more potential to really pop. We also don't know what the Penguins PP is going to look like now that Kessel has moved on, and there is at least some chance the Penguins use a 3F-2D setup with Schultz on the point and Letang in Kessel's spot on the left wall. So there are more scenarios where Schultz is the more productive option, even with Letang in the lineup.

[Lint07]

I finally went with Schultz.

Thanks, everyone!