[Hackey]

Originally Posted by browna

I have little doubt that MacT is pumping up Schultz in order to get him to stay after next year. I don't doubt that they wanted a longer term deal, but Schultz said no.

Remember all the stops that Lowe pulled (Gretzky, Coffey to call him) to get him to come to Edmonton? I am guessing this is a pity deal from Schultz/ combo of another mini Comrie situation.

That was where Lowe tried to guilt Comrie into his second contract at a LOWER rate saying that Comrie "owed" the Oilers for giving him such a good rookie contract. Lowe's future actions regarding Comrie proved that. Schultz either feels obligated, or pushed from Lowe to be obligated to give the Oilers another year.

This time, Lowe reminds Schultz of how far he personally stuck his neck out to get him a few years back, and begs for Schultz to stay another year/says whatever it takes to have him stay and Schultz feels a tinge of guilt and signs a 1 year deal.

The message to pump up Schultz then is instructed to be passed on down the line in the organization, so Mactavish with the first salvo.

Lowe has promised a lot of players a lot of things that he hasn't followed through on, and that untrustfullness is reason #1 that the team can't and hasn't been able to attract FA's or have guys waive clauses to go there because most in the PA know he's two faced.

My guess is playing a similar game with Schultz to hopefully indoctrinate him over the next year and have him reconsider a long term deal next year...or, just as likely, desperately wanting to keep him in the fold now and tell him all things about being the long term guy, then using him as a trading chip sometime after Xmas (starting the process all over again with another schmuk) while making passing, bitter references, cutting down the player after he leaves town. It's the Lowe way.

Quite the imagination you have.