The NHL trade deadline separates the pretenders from the contenders, but for the St. Louis Blues, it represents a crucial opportunity to retool. If you’ve been watching the trade boards light up recently, one name stands out above the rest: Justin Faulk.
At 33 years old, Faulk isn’t just a veteran presence; he is a commodity. Unlike pure rentals that walk for free in July, Faulk has term left, making him a legitimate investment for buying teams. With rumors swirling around the Florida Panthers and the Utah Mammoth, the question isn’t just if the Blues will move him, but rather how high of a ransom they can demand for their elite shot-blocking defenseman.
Why Faulk’s Contract Status Maximizes His Return
In my years covering the league, I’ve learned that general managers love certainty. Faulk has one year remaining on his deal with a $6.5 million cap hit. While that sounds pricey, in a rising cap era, it’s a manageable figure for a top-four defenseman who eats 23 minutes of ice time a night.
The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford nailed it recently: Faulk’s stock won’t get higher than this. He is the second most coveted defenseman on the board behind Rasmus Andersson. Why? Because he plays a heavy game. He blocks shots, he clears the front of the net, and he brings the kind of playoff grit that you can’t teach.
Analyzing the Suitors: Florida and Utah
Let’s look at the Florida Panthers. The defending champs know exactly what it takes to win. They aren’t looking for a savior; they are looking for insurance. With Dmitry Kulikov out until mid-March, their depth is tested. Florida has a history of making bold moves for defensive stability. Bringing in Faulk would essentially be the rich getting richer, solidifying a blue line that is already terrifying to play against.
Then, there is the Utah Mammoth. This is the fascinating angle. Utah is desperate to legitimize their franchise with a playoff berth in their sophomore season. Their hot start has cooled, and they are clinging to a Wild Card spot. A trade for Faulk signals to the fanbase—and the locker room—that management is “all-in.” Utah needs a stabilizer, someone who has been through the wars, to calm things down when the playoff race gets tight in March.
My Personal Insight
Here is the hurdle: The 15-team no-trade list. Faulk holds the cards here. If I’m looking at this from his perspective, does he want to chase a ring immediately with a juggernaut like Florida, or does he want to be the veteran leader on an up-and-coming squad like Utah?
From a St. Louis perspective, Doug Armstrong is a master at maximizing asset value. If a bidding war starts between a desperate Utah team and an aggressive Florida team, the Blues could walk away with a high draft pick and a top prospect. Faulk has served St. Louis well, but moving him now is the smartest asset management play the franchise can make.
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