The St. Louis Blues had been the subject of speculation for weeks regarding Justin Faulk. The price tag on the veteran defenseman was reportedly so high that it scared off a number of teams.
In the end, only the Detroit Red Wings were willing to pay up. But the final price tag was hardly impressive. Let’s check out why this trade is a fail for the St. Louis Blues.
Blues get an F in Faulk trade with Red Wings
Justin Holl
Adding Justin Holl into the trade here was an evident cap dump. Holl was buried in the AHL and hasn’t played a game in the NHL this season.
The Red Wing couldn’t find anyone to take the last year of his $3.4 million contract this season. So, Detroit waived him, and he cleared without any issues. It’s unlikely Holl plays for the Blues this season.
And it’s also unlikely the Blues will bring him back next season. Holl’s contract only mattered because the Red Wings wanted to free up some cap space. The Wings didn’t need to, but the Blues obliged.
All told, St. Louis didn’t need to take Holl, yet they did. The club could have asked for a much better piece. Even someone like Jacob Bernard-Docker would have been a better choice.
Dmitri Buchelnikov
Buchelnikov was the Red Wings' second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. And it’s puzzling why the Blues agreed to take him. There was talk that the Red Wings could have parted with a solid prospect like Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, or Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
Likely, Steve Yzerman balked at moving any one of these prospects for Faulk. But then again, the Blues could have pushed for a better option.
All told, Buchelnkov is currently in the KHL. In 38 games with the CKSA Moskva, he’s got 13 goals and 23 points. Not exactly the type of prospect that will turn heads.
2026 third-round pick
This pick may have some legs to it. It originally belonged to the San Jose Sharks, who sent it to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Earlier in the day, the Penguins sent the pick to the Red Wings in a separate trade. The Red Wings then flipped it in the Faulk deal.
This pick might turn into something, though third-rounders don’t always amount to much. Still, a pick is a pick, and it could yield something fascinating.
2026 first-round pick
This was a compulsory element in the deal. The Red Wings sent their own first-rounder. However, the Red Wings figure to make the playoffs. So, it would be a mid-first-rounder at best. Tankathon shows the Red Wings picking 24th this year.
That’s not bad, but it’s not that good. Still, 24th overall can yield a solid player. The Blues are slated to have three first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. That’s why there’s a chance that the Blues could make lemonade out of this season.
All told, the Faulk trade was a bust. The rumored sky-high prices did not materialize. The Red Wings were most likely the only team standing after everyone else backed out. The Blues got what they could, and that’s what the NHL trade deadline is ultimately all about.