The chatter surrounding defenseman Justin Faulk has permeated much of the discussion surrounding the St. Louis Blues this season.
That said, rumors appear to be picking up even more as the Olympics are winding down and the regular business of the NHL seems to be returning to normal. As such, the hype regarding a Faulk trade could be picking up. Numerous teams will be looking to add defensive depth at the NHL trade deadline. That situation makes the Blues’ veteran blueliner a highly coveted piece.
That’s why a bidding war could be picking up among several teams looking to land Faulk. A report in RG Media from February 17 suggests that the Boston Bruins could be the team most actively looking to land Faulk. In particular, Faulk seems to be the piece Boston pivoted to after missing out on Rasmus Andersson (more on that in a moment).
But the Bruins are not the only team believed to be in the mix for the 1,000-game defender. According to the piece in RG, the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Utah Mammoth, and Buffalo Sabres are also purportedly taking a swing at Faulk.
Given how as many as a half-dozen teams could be serious about Faulk, a bidding war could be kicking up.
Blues looking to get similar return as Flames got for Andersson
The piece in RG also delved into what the Blues could want in return for Faulk. The asking price, it seems, is essentially the same as what the Calgary Flames got for Rasmus Andersson.Â
The Flames landed a first-round pick, a conditional second-round pick, veteran defenseman Zach Whitecloud, and prospect Abram Wiebe.
That’s four pieces for Andresson. Although, it’s worth pointing out that Whitecloud was a bit of a cap dump to make the math work on Andersson. That’s what the Blues could be looking to get for Faulk. Since various teams are in the mix, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a first-rounder, a mid-round pick, and a mid-tier prospect.
Perhaps a combination of draft picks, like multiple second-rounders and another mid-tier pick could move the needle. As for prospects, that’s where things might get tricky. It would really depend on what other clubs might be willing to offer.Â
In the specific case of the Bruins, they have several picks to offer plus a couple of interesting prospects to move. That’s why it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Boston end up landing Faulk at the NHL trade deadline.