St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
When the St. Louis Blues acquired Justin Faulk just days prior to the start of the actual 2019-20 season, it was kind of a shock. Doug Armstrong had made plenty of big deals prior to that, but most trades in the NHL come in the early to mid part of the offseason or sometime deeper into the winter months.
It’s not uncommon to get early-season deals, but it’s rare. That’s what added to the shock of acquiring a big name, but also sending away a piece from a championship team.