Former NHLer Justin Schultz retires after 12-year career

A veteran blueliner is officially calling it a career.

On Friday, HC Lugano of the National League in Switzerland formally announced that defenseman Justin Schultz is retiring from hockey.

Lugano was Schultz’s last board of call in professional hockey, as he signed with the longtime Swiss franchise after playing 11 years in the NHL. The Kelowna, British Columbia native appeared in eight games with the club this season, registering six assists.

Schultz was once regarded as one of the better defensive prospects before he came into the league in 2013. He was initially taken in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Draft. However, he never signed with the team, electing to play three years at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist.

After signing with the Edmonton Oilers, he burst on the scene in 2012-13, where he was named to both the AHL and NHL All-Rookie Teams, including leading the AHL in defenseman scoring and being named to the First All-Star Team.

Schultz played three full seasons in Edmonton before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. From there, he experienced his greatest success, helping the Pens win consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He ended up playing over four seasons in the Steel City before signing with the Washington Capitals as a free agent in 2020. After two years in the U.S. capital, Schultz signed with the upstart Seattle Kraken and was part of the team that clinched its first postseason berth in 2022-23.

His final year in the NHL was the 2023-24 campaign, when she scored 26 points in 70 games for the Kraken.

In 745 NHL appearances, Schultz scored 71 goals and 253 assists for 324 points, including 42 points in 81 playoff games.