The St. Louis Blues have traded defenseman Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 third-round pick, forward Dmitri Buchelnikov, and defenseman Justin Holl. This move is part of broader changes by the Blues, who also sent captain Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders for draft selections, Jonathan Drouin, and the rights to Swedish goaltender Marcus Gidlöf. The trades signal a shift toward younger talent and future assets for the Blues.
On the NHL trade deadline, the St. Louis Blues continued reshaping their roster by executing two significant deals. In the first, they acquired forward Jonathan Drouin, the rights to goaltender Marcus Gidlöf, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2026 third-round pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for captain Brayden Schenn. Drouin, 30, has recorded 21 points (3 goals, 18 assists) in 55 games this season with the Islanders, bringing his career total to 395 points in 662 NHL games across teams including Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche.
Gidlöf, a 20-year-old Swedish prospect drafted in 2024, has played 24 games for Leksand in the SHL this season, posting a 9-15 record, 2.84 goals-against average, and .896 save percentage. The Blues now hold rights to Gidlöf and fellow Swedish goaltender Love Härenstam, who has impressed in HockeyAllsvenskan and at the World Juniors.
In the second trade, the Blues sent defenseman Justin Faulk, 33, to the Detroit Red Wings for Detroit's 2026 first-round pick, San Jose's 2026 third-round pick, Buchelnikov, and Holl. Faulk has tallied 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 61 games this season, contributing offensively for St. Louis since his 2019 acquisition from Carolina. His contract extends through the 2026-27 season.
Buchelnikov, 22, an unsigned 2022 second-round pick, has 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 39 KHL games with CSKA Moskva this year. Holl, 34, has 14 points (2 goals, 12 assists) in 41 AHL games with Grand Rapids Griffins, adding to his 95 NHL points over 396 games with Toronto and Detroit.
These transactions see the Blues part with veterans Schenn and Faulk for draft capital and youth, potentially bolstering their future while the Red Wings add Faulk's offensive skills to their blue line.
