Jeff Schultz is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman. He was born on February 25, 1986, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Schultz started his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince George Cougars in the 2002-03 season. He played for the Cougars for four seasons and was named the WHL Defenseman of the Year in the 2005-06 season.
Schultz was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the first round, 27th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Capitals in the 2006-07 season and played for the team for seven seasons. Schultz was known for his defensive skills and was a key player in the Capitals' penalty kill unit. He was also a reliable player who rarely made mistakes on the ice.
In the 2009-10 season, Schultz played a significant role in the Capitals' success. He played in all 82 regular-season games and helped the team win the Presidents' Trophy for having the best record in the NHL. Schultz also played in the playoffs, where the Capitals were eliminated in the first round.
Schultz's time with the Capitals came to an end after the 2013-14 season when he became a free agent. He signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings for the 2014-15 season. Schultz played in 41 games for the Kings but was mostly used as a depth defenseman. He was not re-signed by the Kings after the season.
Schultz signed a professional tryout contract with the Calgary Flames for the 2015-16 season but did not make the team. He then signed a one-year contract with the AHL's Ontario Reign, the Kings' affiliate team. Schultz played in 67 games for the Reign and was named the team's Best Defenseman.
Schultz's professional hockey career came to an end after the 2015-16 season. He played in a total of 409 NHL games, scoring 11 goals and 64 assists for 75 points. Schultz was known for his defensive skills and was a reliable player who rarely made mistakes on the ice. He was also a key player in the Capitals' penalty kill unit and played a significant role in the team's success in the 2009-10 season.
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