Fantasy Take: Capitals Gain Justin Schultz

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Justin Schultz to a two-year contract worth $4 million per season.

The Capitals get:

Schultz, a right-shot defenseman who will likely slot in on the second pair and second-unit power play. He has the offensive upside to be a fantasy asset, yet he's a certified Band-Aid Boy who has also seen his production diminish (just 12 points in 46 games in 2019-20).

Fantasy players impacted:

Schultz has experience on the Penguins first-unit power play, at times even when Kris Letang was healthy. As well, six of his 12 points in 2019-20 were on the power play. However, he'll be hard-pressed to break into the Capitals first unit, given the presence of top-scoring defenseman John Carlson and four high-scoring forwards. It's quite possible he pushes Dmitry Orlov off the second-unit power play, although Orlov will likely also pair with Schultz at even strength and perhaps even on the power play.

With Schultz officially leaving Pittsburgh, John Marino and Mike Matheson should have an opportunity to pick up second-unit power-play time.

For those in salary cap leagues waiting for the bigger-name free agent defensemen to sign, the Schultz signing could push up the price for the likes of Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug, and Tyson Barrie.

Fantasy players this helps, in order:

Marino

Matheson

Schultz

Kris Letang

Fantasy players this hurts, in order:

Orlov

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