The longer Pietrangelo goes unsigned the more I think Faulk was brought in as his replacement. I know it sounds paranoid, but there is good reason to think Armstrong knows more than we do.
If Army knows Petro is walking, the Faulk deal makes sense. If Army knows he can get <insert amazing package here> in exchange for one of his top-D, then the Faulk deal makes sense. If any number of reasonable, carefully-considered, educated decisions were come to leading to the Faulk signing, then the Faulk deal makes sense. Hell, if it didn't make sense in the eyes of the decision-makers it obviously wouldn't have been done...so there's obviously more to the situation than meets the eye. I don't know that I'm willing to go so far as say this is the first step in the series of brilliant moves to come which will prove that Armstrong is playing 4-dimensional chess, while we all look like fools questioning the move at the time, but I will say that he's earned the benefit of the doubt with this move after delivering the Cup, and until Pietrangelo is re-signed this seems like a wise insurance policy in the event of a worst-case scenario.
After watching Petro-Parayko-Shattenkirk get disbanded over money, it's tough to imagine the Blues going down the same path when Petro-Parayko-Faulk will end up being even more costly once the 2 horses are re-upped. So, there's obviously a plan in place, even if it is just to tell Faulk to learn to love playing his off-side, but it's a bit harsh to call the move "stupid and unnecessary" without knowing the circumstances that ultimately led to the decision to acquire and extend a guy who doesn't seem needed *today*.
But the trade DID come with a 7 year extension.
I doubt many people, if anyone, would argue Eddie is better than Faulk but that doesn’t make it a good move.
To me, it was way unnecessary risk to trade for a guy that plays a position we’re already deep at and pay him a lot and commit to him for 8 years. Hoping that bad contract can somehow be worked around in the future was just a stupid and unnecessary risk to take IMO.
I think what it comes down to to me is I just don’t value Faulk all that highly. Of course Army knows more than us and I’d reason to agree Faulk was brought in as insurance in the event Petro walks...but I don’t see Faulk being worth $6.5M. If we’re going to overpay a d-man and do it longterm, I’d prefer to do it on one that’s currently one of the top-10 d-men on the planet (IMO of course) in Petro than a middling 2nd pairing caliber guy like Faulk.
I get the insurance aspect but I just don’t agree Faulk being that insurance and it being at that price was a good idea. And I generally agree with the way Army operates. I just think this move took on needless risk. There had to be way less risky ways to improve the team and even provide some insurance to the RD position in the event that Petro leaves than commit to an on d-men for big money for 8 years.
If Petro walks, it’s probably going to be time for a hefty retool.
I cannot imagine doing any real playoff damage with Parayko and Faulk as our 1-2 punch. We are not good enough offensively to pull off a Penguins type run.
You can certainly consider it.Exactly. So if you think theres a chance he could walk, how could you not consider trading him...for the long-term benefit of the club? Having already won a Cup, does that make it easier or harder to trade your captain? Pietrangelo’s got a chance to stick around. But if he hasn’t committed to doing so by the trade deadline...?
Yikes!
If we're winning games, he absolutely should get similar, if not more minutes than both of them. Both Petro and Parayko logged over 650 minutes in the playoffs, if we can cut their minutes in the regular season without hurting team performance by utilizing Faulk more, then that absolutely needs to happen to keep those two as fresh as possible come April.What really bothers me, is that our two top RD are having to switch to their off-sides, and pairings are being juggled, just so we can find a fit for Faulk. It is like they are trying to justify the trade and contract by trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. As has been previously stated, Faulk needs to learn to play LD or get used to third pairing minutes on the right. He can make up minutes on the PP. And before we get any sarcastic comments about Faulk being a third pairing D, that is exactly what he is on this team. There is absolutely no way he should be getting more minutes than Pietrangelo or Parayko.
Sorry didn’t see this before I replied above. I see your point now.
I agree that a less risky way would have been to talk with Petros agent sooner. If he got Petro signed in July, then traded Edmundson for an LHD would of been less risky. Maybe he tried to move Eddy, and failed to find trade that made us better?
Does anyone know why he waited until Season started to talk with Scheen and Petros agents in Toronto?
Exactly. So if you think theres a chance he could walk, how could you not consider trading him...for the long-term benefit of the club? Having already won a Cup, does that make it easier or harder to trade your captain? Pietrangelo’s got a chance to stick around. But if he hasn’t committed to doing so by the trade deadline...?
Yikes!
I could see Pietro playing his hometown like Tavares. They both have played earlier together.
Chapter in Blues has complited. Now play hometown and bring Cup in Toronto.
He got extra ES time tonight bc he wasn’t tired from killing off the penalties he took.Faulk seems like he's really settling into the system now. Lead the team in TOI and had 3.5min more even strength minutes than Petro/Parayko
He's not a part of the main two pairings for the PK, so he wouldn't be getting much SH ice time anywaysHe got extra ES time tonight bc he wasn’t tired from killing off the penalties he took.
Yes, but that wasn’t really the point.He's not a part of the main two pairings for the PK, so he wouldn't be getting much SH ice time anyways
I could see Pietro playing his hometown like Tavares. They both have played earlier together.
Chapter in Blues has complited. Now play hometown and bring Cup in Toronto.
I agree that they are going to be in cap hell soon, but I disagree that they won't be addressing their defensive needs with a big contract. They just need to move one of the high dollar forwards, with Nylander being the most likely. At some point the worm needs to turn and they need to invest some money in their blueline, and their best case scenario in doing so is with a premium talent who is willing to take less money to play there. I'm not sure Petro is that guy, but I don't think anyone can say for sure either that he isn't.There is no way Toronto is in on Petro. Even if he were to give a hefty hometown discount, They would have about 50% of their cap dedicated to 4 players, with what is rated as a bottom 10 prospect pool in the league to fill the remaining roster. Even if you ignore all that, they have 1 d-man on contract past this season. ONE. Toronto is going to be in the worst cap-hell from this point forward, it's honestly amazing.
I agree that they are going to be in cap hell soon, but I disagree that they won't be addressing their defensive needs with a big contract. They just need to move one of the high dollar forwards, with Nylander being the most likely. At some point the worm needs to turn and they need to invest some money in their blueline, and their best case scenario in doing so is with a premium talent who is willing to take less money to play there. I'm not sure Petro is that guy, but I don't think anyone can say for sure either that he isn't.
Well look at that!I could see Pietro playing his hometown like Tavares. They both have played earlier together.
Chapter in Blues has complited. Now play hometown and bring Cup in Toronto.
I could see Pietro playing his hometown like Tavares. They both have played earlier together.
Chapter in Blues has complited. Now play hometown and bring Cup in Toronto.
I agree that they are going to be in cap hell soon, but I disagree that they won't be addressing their defensive needs with a big contract. They just need to move one of the high dollar forwards, with Nylander being the most likely. At some point the worm needs to turn and they need to invest some money in their blueline, and their best case scenario in doing so is with a premium talent who is willing to take less money to play there. I'm not sure Petro is that guy, but I don't think anyone can say for sure either that he isn't.