Trade Grades: Justin Faulk To The Detroit Red Wings

After seven years in the position, Steve Yzerman's tenure as general manager ended in 2026. 

The team demoted him to an advisory role in the background after he had more than half a decade to turn the Detroit Red Wings into a contender. Despite his strong drafts, his lack of trades has signified a lack of creativity or decisiveness. 

Troubling news for someone who was credited with helping to build a Tampa Bay Lightning team that won multiple Stanley Cups. 

One of his last trades as GM of the Red Wings was for two-way defenseman Justin Faulk, a veteran from the St. Louis Blues. 

Yzerman sent a hefty package to St. Louis for the veteran, which included a 1st-round pick, a 3rd-round pick, and Russian prospect Dmitry Buchelnikov. 

The cost for a right-shot defenseman in the NHL is noticeably higher in some positions in the league because the cost of developing players like Faulk is quite substantial, with an average of a five-year timeline for a player to fully develop. 

Faulk came to the Red Wings to help push them deep into the postseason and help them earn a spot in the playoffs. 

Despite head coach Todd McLellan's best efforts, it was another year where Yzerman played his hand conservatively and wouldn't spend a significant amount of draft capital or salary cap to help bolster the club.

Which led to Dylan Larkin, like his other Team USA teammates, requesting trades out of territories they felt like they'd never win in. 

Grading The Justin Faulk Trade: D

While Faulk can be utilized on special teams, the Red Wings already had capable defensemen in Simon Edvinsson and Moritz Seider, who have offensive upside that Faulk added. 

Instead of promoting younger players (John Leonard) or acquiring one more top-six forward (such as a 2C), he held his cards, and it cost him his job. 

While the addition of Viktor Arvidsson was a notable positive move, Yzerman hesitated to give away draft capital before; he gave away a 1st-round pick and forward Dmitry Buchelnikov, who could've been a major factor in future Red Wings teams. 

In March, they went 5-7-2 and missed the playoffs for the 10th season in a row, and in those 17 games in which Faulk suited up for the Red Wings, he only added eight points. Not good enough.

Those assets would've been better spent on a playmaking center instead.