Austin Konenski
The Detroit Red Wings landed defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues during the NHL trade deadline. It was a massive move for Detroit, which gave up a first-round pick and more to acquire Faulk. However, the Red Wings nearly landed a different defenseman at the NHL trade deadline.
Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman had a choice between Faulk and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen at the deadline, as reported by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast. Ristolainen, who was a part of trade rumors throughout the week, wasn’t dealt by Philadelphia.
Ultimately, Yzerman decided to go with Faulk, who has played very well since coming to Detroit. Ristolainen is 31 years old with a $5.1 million cap hit. Just 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, which is the same as Faulk. It is unclear why Yzerman and Detroit specifically decided to go with Faulk; however, it might have come down to the price and fit. After all, Faulk was regarded as a better trade option for Detroit than Ristolainen throughout the week.
Instead of Ristolainen, the Red Wings are moving forward with Faulk in their second line alongside Ben Chiarot. 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 may single-handedly win games for the organization.
Time will tell if Yzerman got it right, but the trade for Faulk is paying off.
Read More: Detroit Red Wings Lose Dylan Larkin for Weeks, Playoffs at Risk
