Having given this trade a little bit of time, and having watched some of the season. I am disliking it more and more. I don't mean to pile on Faulk. He had a bad last game, but he had the excuses: new team, playing on his off-side, etc. Its not his fault. Thats the point though. I don't think the trade makes sense given our team make-up. Why make a big trade and commit so much term/salary to a player that is going to have to either play on his off-side or push our best player to his off-side. I don't think Faulk's upside is good enough for the downside.
We basically have 3 options a) overpay a our third pairing RD, b) Handicap out best player Pietrangelo by forcing him to his off-side, or c) play Faulk on his off-side where he may never get comfortable thus neutering his value. If Faulk figures out playing on his off-hand, then my point is moot. But that is easier said than done, and he has been fairly inconsistent defensively on his natural side.
The upside only we get is to have 2 RHS D on the point for our PP2. How does that help? If that is the set-up we want, is his shot that much better than Parayko's? Its not better, he is just more apt to use it. So couldn't we have taught Parayko to just shoot more and saved Bokk and Millions against the cap?
Edmundson, by the way, is not as bad as he played last year. He is solidly a 4th D in Carolina. He is getting 20 minutes a night. I haven't seen Carolina play yet, but they have other options if he was doing poorly. He is getting more time than Gardiner, Fleury and TVR.
Anyway, I know those opinions are nothing new. I am just ruminating out loud. This trade has never really gelled to make sense with me.