Faulk is headed into the final year of a deal that carries a $4.833M AAV cap-hit but gets a deal that will carry him through the 2026-27 NHL season when he will be 35-years-old. Faulk has failed to top 40 points in four straight seasons and is coming off of an 11-goal, 24-assist season in 2019.
Faulk has been one of the best offensive-defenseman in the NHL over the last five seasons. Over that stretch, he is fourth in PPG (32), seventh in goals (67), 18th in PPP (79), 25th in points (189) and tied for 26th in Pts/gm (0.50). Heading to St. Louis, he’ll have to battle with fellow right-handed defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko for playing time at 5v5 and him or Pietrangelo should quarterback the first power-play.
Alexandrov was a second-round pick (No.62 overall) in this summer’s draft. The 18-year-old centre had 27 goals and 34 assists (61 points) in 64 QMJHL games last year. He will return to the Charlottetown Islanders for his third season in 2020.
Buchnevich set new career-highs in goals (21) and points-per-game (0.59) in 2019 while appearing in 64 games with the Rangers. Buchnevich has been a breakout candidate for the last two seasons, but 2020 looks like his best chance yet. As long as Buchnevich can remain in the Rangers’ to-6, the additions of Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko should give Buchneviche plenty of talent to work with.
Sundqvist set career-highs in goals (14), assists (17) and points (31) in 74 games last season. Sundqvist was third among Blues forwards in SH/TOI (1:39), hits (101) and tied for sixth in blocked shots (31). The 25-year-old centre went on to add nine points (4G / 5A) in 25 playoff games to help St. Louis to the Stanley Cup.
Gunnarsson had a difficult season with injuries in 2018-19, missing a total of 57 games with a combination of ailments. He finished the year with seven points (3G / 4A) in 25 games and added three points (1G / 2A) in 19 playoff games to help the Blues to a Stanley Cup—the first of his career.
Thomas suffered the injury during Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals but appeared in two games in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blues announced that Thomas will rehab the injury throughout the offseason and will undergo a full evaluation ahead of training camp.
Thomas has been out since Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals but is set to return in a potential Stanley Cup clinching Game 6 in St. Louis. Thomas, who has six points (1G / 5A) in the postseason, will replace Ivan Barbashev who was suspended for a hit to the head on Marcus Johansson in Game 5.
Binnington was pulled for the first time in his NHL career in the Blues Game 3 loss to the Bruins. Binnington allowed five goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Jake Allen. Binnington has been tremendous at bouncing back after a loss in the playoffs, going 5-2 with 1.84 GAA and .947 SV%.
Sundqvist was suspended for Game 3 for his hit on Matt Grzelcyk in Game 2. Sundqvist will replace Robby Fabbri in the lineup for Game 4 and comes in with one assist in the series and nine points (4G / 5A) in 21 playoff games. He will centre the Blues’ fourth-line with Ivan Barbashev and Alex Steen on his wings.
Sundqvist received a two-minute minor for boarding on the play but has been suspended for Game 3 in St. Louis. Zach Sanford will replace Oskar Sundqvist on the fourth line.
Thomas was crushed by Bruins defenseman Torey Krug late in Game 1 and will not play in Game 2. Head coach Craig Berube said that his absence is not related to that hit, but he will be replaced by Robby Fabbri regardless of what is taking him out of the lineup. This will be Fabbri’s first game since May 3rd, when he appeared in Game 5 vs. the Stars.
Thomas has sat out the last few practices, including Monday’s morning skate, but will play in Game 1 in Boston. Thomas has performed well during the postseason, scoring one goal with five assists (six points) in 19 games.
