The Detroit Red Wings acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues during the NHL trade deadline. This was a big move for Detroit, which gave up a first-round pick and more to acquire Faulk. However, the Red Wings almost landed a different defenseman at the NHL trade deadline.
As reported by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman had a choice between Faulk and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen at the deadline. Ristolainen, who was part of trade rumors throughout the week, was not dealt by Philadelphia.
Ultimately, Yzerman decided to go with Faulk, who has played very well since arriving in Detroit. Ristolainen is 31 years old with earnings of $5.1 million. Like Faulk, the Philadelphia defenseman would have been under contract through the 2026–27 NHL season.
Ristolainen is a top-4 right-handed shot defenseman, similar to Faulk. It is unclear why Yzerman and Detroit decided to go with Faulk in particular; However, it could come down to price and fit. After all, Faulk was considered a better trade option for Detroit than Ristolainen all week.
Instead of Ristolainen, the Red Wings are moving forward with Faulk alongside Ben Chiarot on their second line. Detroit hasn’t won many games since the NHL trade deadline, but losing captain Dylan Larkin and forward Andrew Copp for two weeks has affected its play on the ice.
Despite the struggles, it seems like the Red Wings made a smart decision by trading for Faulk. The 33-year-old defenseman has been very strong in Detroit, and if he can continue this play, he can single-handedly win games for the organization.
Time will tell whether Yzerman gets it right, but the trade has been profitable for Faulk.
READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings lose Dylan Larkin for several weeks, playoffs in jeopardy
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