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St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk trade talks heat up, Pittsburgh Penguins face $6.5M cap hit and rich return
Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Pro Hockey Rumors, citing Elliotte Friedman on NHL Tonight, floated a theory: Justin Faulk would take a rich return, and Pittsburgh would feel it.
That matters because the Penguins are sitting 30-15-13 and in a real race, even with Sidney Crosby out at least four weeks.
Faulk isn't a rental lottery ticket. He's signed at a $6.5 million cap hit through 2026-27.
The selling point is simple, right shot, top-four capable, can run a second man-advantage unit.
The warning is simpler, St. Louis wants an Andersson-style haul, not a "nice try" package.
That comparable deal Friedman referenced included Zach Whitecloud, a first, a conditional second, and a prospect.
So what does that translate to in Penguins language?
Pittsburgh already brought in Samuel Girard, but the daily grind still screams for another defender who can move pucks when legs get heavy.
Justin Faulk would change the Pittsburgh Penguins blue line
Penguins fans want the push, but nobody wants another deadline that strips the pipeline for a name that doesn't tilt playoff games.
Faulk's 2025-26 counting line is modest, 11-21-32 through 59 games.
The fit is clean on the right side, especially if the staff wants less on Kris Letang's plate at five-on-five.
The cap fit is the hard part, because $6.5 million almost certainly means money out, not just futures.
A believable starting point is a first-round pick, a young roster player with term, and a legit prospect, with St. Louis pushing for more.
If Kyle Dubas calls, the best leverage is selling St. Louis on certainty, clean salary, NHL-ready piece, and picks they can plan around.
Either way, the "rich return" talk is the point, this isn't bargain shopping, it's a commitment to the spring.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
ESPN overreacts to Sidney Crosby injury as Penguins depth drives 198 goals
ESPN overreacts to Sidney Crosby injury as Penguins depth drives 198 goals
| POLL | ||
MARS 1|147 ANSWERS St. Louis Blues' Justin Faulk trade talks heat up, Pittsburgh Penguins face $6.5M cap hit and rich return Should the Pittsburgh Penguins pay a first-round price for Justin Faulk? | ||
| Yes | 40 | 27.2 % |
| No | 107 | 72.8 % |
| List of polls | ||