Carolina Hurricanes Trade Justin Faulk to St. Louis Blues for Joel Edmundson and Dominik Bokk

What was long-rumored is now official: the Carolina Hurricanes have parted ways with their longest-tenured player and most prolific scoring defenseman in team history. On Tuesday, the Canes announced they traded Justin Faulk and a fifth-round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Joel Edmundson, forward prospect Dominik Bokk, and a seventh-round draft pick.

A veteran of 559 career NHL games with the Hurricanes, Faulk led all defensemen in franchise history with 258 points (85g, 173a) and was a three-time NHL All Star selection. A pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season, it had been reported that the Hurricanes and Faulk had discussed but not come to terms with a contract extension, and upon completion of the trade, the Blues signed Faulk to a seven year contract extension with an average annual value of $6.5 million.

In Joel Edmundson, the Hurricanes will acquire a 26-year old defenseman who played in 22 playoff games supporting the Blues’ run to the Stanley Cup championship last season. He has two goals and nine assists in 269 career games played, and is currently on a one-year $3.1 million contract. Edmundson is a left-hand shot defenseman who focuses on the defensive side of the game. Despite being used more in defensive situations, he still manages a positive corsi last season while also averaging nearly 19:00 TOI.

Bokk was the Blues first round selection in the 2018 entry draft at 25th overall. The 19 year old German winger currently plays in Sweden. Last season he recorded eight goals and 15 assists with the Vaxjo Lakers. He also recorded four goals and 10 assists in the World Junior Championships with Germany.

The press release from the team follows below.

Following the official trade announcement, general manager Don Waddell spoke with the media via conference call.

• Waddell said the Hurricanes met with Faulk’s representation at the draft, but the two sides remained far off with regard to a contract extension. Carolina felt comfortable going into the season without a contract extension in place for Faulk, but felt like the offer they agreed to with St. Louis was too good to pass up.
• In Edmundson, Waddell feels the Canes get a stay-at-home defenseman that the club needed. They like the way his game meshes with the likes of Jaccob Slavin, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Jake Gardiner, a quartet of defensemen who skate well and provide offense. Edmundson will not be relied on for his offense.
• Regarding German prospect Dominik Bokk, Waddell said the 19-year-old forward’s value is high due to his combination of youth, skill, and controllability moving forward. The Hurricanes liked him a lot in his draft year (2018) and feel like Bokk is a “huge coup” for the team moving forward.
• Waddell expects the trade with St. Louis to be the last shakeup of the roster before opening night on October 3. Barring any unexpected developments, Carolina has the group they want to enter the regular season with.
• On the leadership front, Waddell noted it’s always a concern when a team loses two prominent locker room leaders as the Canes did with Justin Williams and Justin Faulk. With that in mind, he still feels comfortable with the combination of players they have right now, and confident the younger players will take steps forward in that regard.

Press Release

RALEIGH, NC - Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired defenseman Joel Edmundson, forward Dominik Bokk and the Blues’ seventh-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Justin Faulk and Carolina’s fifth-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft.

”Joel is a big, physical presence on defense, who knows what it takes to win a championship,” said Waddell. ”Dominik was a first-round pick who has a real chance to be an impact player on the NHL level.

”We’d like to thank Justin for both his on-ice and off-ice contributions during his time with the Hurricanes. He was a great teammate and made a significant impact on the community, and we wish him all the best moving forward.”

Edmundson, 26, totaled 11 points (2g, 9a) and led all Blues players with 68 penalty minutes in 64 games during the 2018-19 regular season. The 6’4”, 215-pound defenseman ranked fourth among Blues blueliners in plus/minus (+8) and averaged more than two minutes per game in shorthanded ice time, helping St. Louis’ penalty kill rank ninth in the NHL for the season. A native of Brandon, Man., Edmundson appeared in 22 of the Blues’ 26 playoff games, totaling one goal and six assists (7 points) to help St. Louis capture its first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. A second-round selection, 46th overall, of the Blues at the 2011 NHL Draft, Edmundson has totaled 52 points (13g, 39a) and 248 penalty minutes in 269 career NHL games.

Bokk, 19, is currently in his third Swedish Hockey League (SHL) season, after totaling 23 points (8g, 15a) in 47 games for the Vaxjo Lakers in 2018-19. The Schweinfurt, Germany, native led all skaters in scoring with eight points (1g, 7a) in five games at the 2019 IIHF Division 1 World Junior Championship, helping Germany win the tournament to earn promotion to the top division. Bokk (6’2”, 182 lbs.) was selected by the Blues in the first round, 25th overall, at the 2018 NHL Draft.

Faulk, 27, registered 258 points (85g, 173a) in 559 career NHL games with the Hurricanes, posting more career goals and points than any other defenseman in franchise history. The 5’11”, 217-pound blueliner tallied 35 points (11g, 24a) in 82 NHL games during the 2018-19 regular season, and added eight points (1g, 7a) in 15 NHL playoff games as Carolina advanced to the 2019 Eastern Conference Final.