The Carolina Hurricanes kept Justin Faulk off the ice today leading to mass speculation about a potential trade. The 27-year old defenseman has been on the block for some time, with a deal getting extremely close with the Anaheim Ducks recently. Faulk is healthy according to head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who had Jake Gardiner running the powerplay today in his place.
Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, Faulk is an expendable piece for the Hurricanes after adding Gardiner and other depth pieces to the blueline. The team should be able to boost their prospect system or forward group with a deal, returning some value for the former co-captain. Faulk scored 11 goals and 35 points last season, the sixth consecutive year he has broken the 30-point threshold.
- Perhaps there would be a fit in Montreal, where the Canadiens are looking to move a forward according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The scribe points out that Jonathan Drouin played the fewest minutes of any forward in Monday’s home loss to a Toronto Maple Leafs squad made up of almost entirely fringe NHL or AHL players. Several young forwards are pushing for more playing time in Montreal, giving them enough options to make someone expendable in the coming days.
- Friedman also chimes in on the Taylor Hall extension speculation, noting that he believes they “are trying to make a serious run” at a deal right now. Hall is one of the premiere talents available in next summer’s unrestricted free agent crop and should command a huge dollar figure on any extension with the New Jersey Devils. In recent days the talks have picked up between the two sides, after GM Ray Shero did everything he could to improve the roster for the upcoming season.
I don’t see a fit at all in a possible Faulk for Drouin trade. Montreal already has a better version of Faulk in Jeff Petry and still have Shea Weber. Plus they have Josh Brook and Cale Fleury on the cusp of making the NHL. Montreal’s right side doesn’t need anymore bodies. Faulk doesn’t fill the Habs need for a top pair LD or a goal scoring winger. As frustrating as Drouin is, he is more useful to Montreal than 1 year of Faulk would be.
I see Faulk heading for Anaheim, for a current player(Comtois ?), and prospect and signing an extension with Ducks. Montreal is in no need of Defense with possible prospects coming soon which you are correct Doc on Habs. Can’t say what Canadiens can get for Drouin, They are a little banged up in bottom six. with Poehling out for a little while.
Wrong again Faulk went to St. Louis !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least you’ve got some decent consolation, Gerald. A nice waterfront view, there! Something in common with both St. Louis & Chicago! BTW, I’m a bit surprised they took Faulk, period. Maybe’s he there to be trade bait in January…
Mac , he is listed as UFA through 2027 at a cap hit of $4,833,333 , so they may move on from Bortuzzo, or Gunnarsson, Bortuzzo is a right handed shot so the Blues are strong on right side now with a few prospects in the system. both are known more for stay at home D-Men, not much on scoring but have few that can score, Boumeester is signed through 2020 as well and 35 . yep water has cooled down some so may go jump in , in a bit.
Faulk is viewed by some as almost as big of a turnover machine as Gardiner, though. St. Louis’s scoring depth isn’t so bad that you need a D-man to impersonate a fourth forward and end up being a defensive liability. The Chief won’t stand for that, nor should he.