Blues acquire Faulk from Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was asked to keep @Justin Faulk off of the ice this morning, so we knew something was brewing.
A few hours later, the St. Louis Blues announced that they acquired Faulk and a 2020 fifth-round pick from the Hurricanes for @Joel Edmundson, @Dominik Bokk and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
Justin Faulk has agreed to a seven-year contract extension with the Blues. https://t.co/muPb1xWQmR #stlblues
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 24, 2019
The trade also came with an extension for the 27-year-old defenseman. Faulk, who is entering the final year of his current deal, signed a seven-year contract extension worth $45.5 million ($6.5M AAV). This contract will take him through the 2026-27 season, at which time Faulk will be a 35-year-old free agent.
Faulk is one of the better offensive-defensemen in the NHL but has not eclipsed 40 points since 2015. Since that season, Faulk is fourth among defensemen in shots (837) and power-play goals (25), ninth in goals (52), tied for 20th in PPP (59) and 34th in points (140) while playing 22:55 ATOI. Despite playing on a crowded blueline in Carolina last season, Faulk led the unit in PP TOI/gm (2:56) and will now battle with @Alex Pietrangelo for that honour in St. Louis. On the other side, @Dougie Hamilton should receive a big fantasy boost after this trade. He should take over for Faulk on the top power-play unit and could become an elite fantasy option in 2002.
Edmundson does not have the same offensive upside as Faulk but brings a physical element to the Hurricanes’ back-end. Edmundson ranks 22nd among defensemen in hits (531) over the last four seasons but has averaged just 13 points (3G / 10A) during that time.
As for Bokk, it’s another high-end prospect in a Hurricanes system that is loaded with them. The 6-foot-2, 181 lbs. winger was selected No.25 overall in 2018 and is entering his second full season in the Swedish Hockey League. Last year, he had eight goals and 15 assists (23 points) in 47 games with Växjö Lakers HC and is set to join Rögle BK for the 2019-20 season. Bokk possesses fantastic speed and slippery hands that should make him a force in North America in the coming years.
2019-20 Fantasy Projections
POS | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | SOG | PIMS | PPG | PPP | HIT | BLK | |
| Justin Faulk | STL | D | 78 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 201 | 36 | 5 | 14 | 123 | 87 |
| Dougie Hamilton | CAR | D | 82 | 18 | 32 | 50 | 279 | 68 | 5 | 15 | 115 | 98 |
| Joel Edmundson | CAR | D | 69 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 101 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 115 |