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Sandman · 04-01-2025, 12:11 AM

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 21):

RHC Ashton Schultz (6'0",181lbs)
Chicago (USHL): 51gp/ 14g/ 20a/ 34pts, -6, 4 PIM

Right-handed pivot Ashton Schultz (ranked # 59 NA Skaters) doesn't have the most head-turning numbers for a draft-aged prospect, and with an Oct.3rd, 2006 birthday, those stats have even less luster. Schultz passed up attending the University of North Dakota for his freshman year, in favor of going back to the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers for the season- but after just one game with that club, he was moved to the Chicago Steel. Schultz plays mostly on the second line in Chicago, who are in 14th place out of 16 teams in the USHL, and are 11th in goals-scored. Scouts seem to really love this kid, and it's not because of his stats per se, but because he employs a detailed game with pro-style habits, most notably in the defensive zone. He displays exemplary positioning and awareness in all three zones, with top-notch intelligence and IQ; he's highly tactical, always supporting the play and pre-scanning with his head on a swivel, and always seemingly in the right place, at the right time. Schultz is a cerebral two-way center who plays with intensity, and acts as a swiss-army knife for his team- he is impactful in all areas of the ice, can play in any situation, excels on special teams, and can play center or wing with equal effectiveness.

In the defensive zone, Schultz looks like a driven player with pride in his shutdown ability- he is highly disruptive, forces attackers to the perimeter and out of danger areas, applies supreme pressure on puck-carriers, and cuts off the middle. He is instrumental in turning possession around from defense to offense for his team. At the other end of the ice, he is engaged and aggressive on the forecheck, with a dog-on-a-bone mentality to target puck-carriers, and is actually a fairly balanced offensive performer between playmaking and finishing, with a more workmanlike approach than a dynamic, flashy one. Schultz, who put up an assist in the All-American Game (a 3-2 loss), can make plays in traffic under pressure while taking contact, skating with his head up to survey his options, and processing quickly. He doesn't take many risks though in his rather meat-and-potatoes game, and only flashes true creativity and high-end offensive awareness. He locates soft spots in the slot to dip in-and-out of, and arrives at the net-front with impeccable timing, at just the right time for close-in chances, and exhibits soft hands in-tight. He can score from a bit further out though, getting a good whip on his wrister, with a quick and deceptive release to freeze goalies. Mobility-wise, he is an excellent skater with above-average speed, and is slippery and elusive on his edges to spin off of hits, and dodge checks. He keeps his feet in constant motion, and his quickness is amplified by his high-end workrate, and his tireless motor- he supplies his team with energy, and stays active in all situations.

Though he is mostly a quick-touch player, he exerts quick hands and smooth stickhandling in his carries, and superb protection skills to deny poke-checks and handle with the puck out of reach of attackers. He owns some slick one-on-one moves, shifty footwork, and an array of deceptive maneuvers to work his way through traffic, and he can handle around sticks in-flight. Using these skills, he presents himself as an option on the breakout, and supports the action through transition by connecting plays expertly, showing a pace-pushing tempo in the process, and play-driving capabilities. Schultz isn't huge in stature, but he doesn't at all shy away from the rough stuff- he battles hard for loose pucks along the boards, fights for position in front of the net, and pins opponents to the wall in the defensive zone, but he's not overly physical in terms of throwing hits. His off-puck game is one of his greatest strengths- he skates intelligent routes to stay a playable option and to support the play in all three zones, and acts to disrupt his opponents all over the ice. There's good reason why Central Scouting has put him in the lofty position of #59 (NA Skaters), and why his name seems to showing up more and more in various mocks- he could be a highly impactful bottom-six, two-way contributor in the NHL one day. Schultz is committed to the University of North Dakota for 2025-26, which is good news for the team that drafts him, as he will have a longer runway to develop, while playing against men. Look for him in the middle rounds.

04-01-2025, 12:11 AM	#1285
Sandman Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Calgary Exp:	Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 21): RHC Ashton Schultz (6'0",181lbs) Chicago (USHL): 51gp/ 14g/ 20a/ 34pts, -6, 4 PIM Right-handed pivot Ashton Schultz (ranked # 59 NA Skaters) doesn't have the most head-turning numbers for a draft-aged prospect, and with an Oct.3rd, 2006 birthday, those stats have even less luster. Schultz passed up attending the University of North Dakota for his freshman year, in favor of going back to the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers for the season- but after just one game with that club, he was moved to the Chicago Steel. Schultz plays mostly on the second line in Chicago, who are in 14th place out of 16 teams in the USHL, and are 11th in goals-scored. Scouts seem to really love this kid, and it's not because of his stats per se, but because he employs a detailed game with pro-style habits, most notably in the defensive zone. He displays exemplary positioning and awareness in all three zones, with top-notch intelligence and IQ; he's highly tactical, always supporting the play and pre-scanning with his head on a swivel, and always seemingly in the right place, at the right time. Schultz is a cerebral two-way center who plays with intensity, and acts as a swiss-army knife for his team- he is impactful in all areas of the ice, can play in any situation, excels on special teams, and can play center or wing with equal effectiveness. In the defensive zone, Schultz looks like a driven player with pride in his shutdown ability- he is highly disruptive, forces attackers to the perimeter and out of danger areas, applies supreme pressure on puck-carriers, and cuts off the middle. He is instrumental in turning possession around from defense to offense for his team. At the other end of the ice, he is engaged and aggressive on the forecheck, with a dog-on-a-bone mentality to target puck-carriers, and is actually a fairly balanced offensive performer between playmaking and finishing, with a more workmanlike approach than a dynamic, flashy one. Schultz, who put up an assist in the All-American Game (a 3-2 loss), can make plays in traffic under pressure while taking contact, skating with his head up to survey his options, and processing quickly. He doesn't take many risks though in his rather meat-and-potatoes game, and only flashes true creativity and high-end offensive awareness. He locates soft spots in the slot to dip in-and-out of, and arrives at the net-front with impeccable timing, at just the right time for close-in chances, and exhibits soft hands in-tight. He can score from a bit further out though, getting a good whip on his wrister, with a quick and deceptive release to freeze goalies. Mobility-wise, he is an excellent skater with above-average speed, and is slippery and elusive on his edges to spin off of hits, and dodge checks. He keeps his feet in constant motion, and his quickness is amplified by his high-end workrate, and his tireless motor- he supplies his team with energy, and stays active in all situations. Though he is mostly a quick-touch player, he exerts quick hands and smooth stickhandling in his carries, and superb protection skills to deny poke-checks and handle with the puck out of reach of attackers. He owns some slick one-on-one moves, shifty footwork, and an array of deceptive maneuvers to work his way through traffic, and he can handle around sticks in-flight. Using these skills, he presents himself as an option on the breakout, and supports the action through transition by connecting plays expertly, showing a pace-pushing tempo in the process, and play-driving capabilities. Schultz isn't huge in stature, but he doesn't at all shy away from the rough stuff- he battles hard for loose pucks along the boards, fights for position in front of the net, and pins opponents to the wall in the defensive zone, but he's not overly physical in terms of throwing hits. His off-puck game is one of his greatest strengths- he skates intelligent routes to stay a playable option and to support the play in all three zones, and acts to disrupt his opponents all over the ice. There's good reason why Central Scouting has put him in the lofty position of #59 (NA Skaters), and why his name seems to showing up more and more in various mocks- he could be a highly impactful bottom-six, two-way contributor in the NHL one day. Schultz is committed to the University of North Dakota for 2025-26, which is good news for the team that drafts him, as he will have a longer runway to develop, while playing against men. Look for him in the middle rounds.