Justin Schultz Meets The Media After His First Pro Game

With the NHL currently locked out, some of the leagues younger stars have been able to keep sharp by playing in the American Hockey League, which is the NHL's version of AAA.

Former Badger Justin Schultz—who gave up his final season to sign a free agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers—played in his first pro game Friday night for Edmonton's farm club in Oklahoma City.

Schultz picked up right where he left off in Madison, registering a power-play goal in a 4-0 win for the Barrons over Minnesota's AHL team based out of Houston.

The former All-American talked with the media after the game about his transition to the pro level.

Schultz's coach with the Barrons Todd Nelson also talked with the media after the game, and was asked about the former Badger. Nelson was complimentary of Schultz, and praised his contributions.

"Well, I like the way he plays. He's a guy that jumps up in the play, he knows how to read the offensive situations off the rush. He has a very good knack of getting the puck through; he doesn't have to wind up for the big slap shot. He gets his head up and can fire a snap shot pretty accurate and pretty hard. That's going to help him out, getting points where he's able to get pucks through on the power play. He's very smooth with the puck; he's got a lot of skill. He thinks the game very well, that's one of the biggest things, how he thinks the game, he's able to jump up in the rush at the right time."-Oklahoma City head coach Todd Nelson on Justin Schultz in his first pro game.

Jump to the 1:40 mark of the video for Nelson's comments on Schultz: