After the chaos of the Colton Parayko trade, everyone's attention turns to who the Blues will move next. With the Blues expected to be one of the busiest teams at the deadline, the Parayko trade falling through should not stop the Blues from being sellers. Several players have been rumored, and at this point, it feels like no one is safe. If you're a veteran on this team, your time in St. Louis appears to be at an end.
Out of all the players the Blues could move, Justin Faulk seems most likely to be out the door next. The defenseman has been one of the few bright spots for the Blues this season, as in 61 games, he has notched 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points. His advanced metrics are also pretty good. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a 47.36 CF%, a 47.91 SCF%, and a 46.22 xG%. He has also allowed 449 scoring changes and 23 high-danger goals.
This is the type of player that any team would like to have. He's someone who can produce on both offense and defense and is a key factor on a team's special teams. An all-around solid hockey player. But with all the movement happening in the NHL, how has this affected Faulk's market? What sort of package could the Blues get for him?
What is the current state of Justin Faulk market?
Multiple teams are in the market for a defenseman this trade deadline. The only team that has acquired a defenseman is the Oilers with the Connor Murphy trade. This allows the Blues to shop Faulk to multiple teams, creating a bidding war for his services and raising his value. There is also the fact that Faulk is under contract until next season. Teams will be able to fix their defensive problems, not just for this year but for next year as well.
To get an idea of what the Blues can get, we have to look at the other two trades. The Oilers sent a 2028 second-round pick for Murphy, while also retaining 50% of his contract. While the trade didn't go through, the Blues were set to get Radim Mrtka, a first-round pick, and potentially other pieces. With Faulk having better numbers than both, we can assume at a minimum that Faulk could land a prospect and a first- and late-round pick. But if a bidding war occurs, he could easily land multiple high-round picks.
The best landing spot for Faulk is the Bruins. They are in desperate need of a right-handed defenseman. Plus, the Bruins can live with that price tag because he can become one of the centerpieces of their defensive core. The Kraken are also a potential landing spot as they are currently hanging on to the final wild card spot in the West. They need strong veteran players who can help lead the roster and help them find sustained success.
While it will be hard to say goodbye to a player like Faulk, it's the best thing for the organization. It coudl help land a package that speeds up the re-tool and makes the Blues contenders soon.