Former NHL defenseman Jordan Schmaltz sparked a lively debate this week when he floated five potential trade destinations for Justin Faulk in a tweet that quickly made the rounds among Blues fans and league watchers.
#NHL Teams that could use Justin Faulk’s services
— Jordan Schmaltz (@J_Swish24) January 30, 2026
(Assuming money in and money out makes sense)
#1 Man Jose. Signed thru 2027. This would be a nice piece of business for Mike Grier in many ways. Solidify the backend this year and next and if shit hits the fan by March 2027 you…
In his post, Schmaltz listed San Jose, Minnesota, Utah, Edmonton, Carolina as teams that could make sense for the veteran Blues defenseman. A month ago, some of those destinations would’ve sounded like pure fantasy. But the NHL standings have shifted dramatically:
• San Jose is 27‑21‑4 and just one point out of a wild card spot.
• Utah sits in the first wild card position at 28‑22‑4.
• Minnesota is dangerous holding the second playoff spot in the Central division.
• Edmonton could certainly use veteran defensive help for a deep playoff run.
• Carolina is always lurking for value and a reunion would be picture perfect.
At this point, St. Louis doesn’t need to move Faulk. He’s a leader, a minutes‑eater, and a stabilizer. But with multiple Western Conference teams ahead of schedule and looking for a veteran defender for the playoffs, the market around him has become more interesting, and more realistic, than it was even a few weeks ago.
The Realistic Landing Spots — Ranked and Explained
Utah Mammoth