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Reviewing the Justin Faulk trade with the St Louis Blues

By Conor Power

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 16: Justin Faulk #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes slides into the net during the third period against the Boston Bruins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the PNC Arena on May 16, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Bruins defeated the Hurricanes 4-0 to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 16: Justin Faulk #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes slides into the net during the third period against the Boston Bruins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the PNC Arena on May 16, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Bruins defeated the Hurricanes 4-0 to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: Justin Faulk #72 of the St. Louis Blues in action against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on April 21, 2022, in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: Justin Faulk #72 of the St. Louis Blues in action against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on April 21, 2022, in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Faulk’s time in St Louis

Since the trade from Carolina, Faulk has found a new home in the Gateway to the West. However, he didn’t get off to the smoothest start as a St Louis Blue. When he arrived in St Louis, he seemed to struggle as the offensive defenseman put up just five goals and eleven assists in his first 69 games as a Blue. This was a worrying sign for someone that should have been in a contract year.

I say should have been in a contract year because Faulk signed a massive extension with the Blues when he arrived. A 7-year, $45.5 million deal was agreed upon between the parties, carrying an average annual value of $6.5 million per year. But that isn’t all, as the first five years of that deal came with a full no-trade clause. In the final 2 years, it becomes a modified no-trade with a 15-team no-trade list.

Faulk has since found his footing in St Louis. This year, the offensive defenseman put up 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points in 76 games. While this doesn’t look like anything substantial on the surface, it is a much more comparable stat-line to the ones he was putting up as a member of the Hurricanes organization. His growth in the midwest has been obvious and he’s gotten stronger over time.

Faulk still has 4 years remaining on his current deal and is the highest-paid member of the Blues’ defensive core. While his deal is not exactly team-friendly, the blueliner has gotten closer to being his old self when he’s taken to the ice at the Enterprise Center. He’s not been earth-shattering, but he’s not been anything to turn your nose up at. He’s come as advertised pretty much.

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