Real Kyper's Off-Season Trade Board 1.0: Players To Watch This Summer

[TBone]

Real Kyper's Off-Season Trade Board 1.0: Players to watch this summer

Nick Kypreos
@realkyper
June 02, 2025

The NHL trade deadline was three months ago, but as the Stanley Cup Final gets set to begin this week and all eyes are on what should be an excellent series, trade talk is once again picking up around the league. That's because 30 NHL teams that are no longer in the running are discussing ways to improve their rosters for the 2025-26 season.

Several possible trades are being discussed among management teams and so, in my first off-season trade board, I'll give you some insight into how I think things might begin to unfold going into the draft, free agency, and beyond.

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Justin Faulk

At points this season, Justin Faulk had appeared on my trade board because the Blues were trailing the playoff race and seemed to be exploring several trade possibilities. When they shot back up into the race the calculation changed. This off-season, Faulk again will be a trade candidate as Doug Armstrong looks at ways to improve St. Louis’ roster for 2025-26 and set them up for future success as best he can before handing the GM reins over to Alexander Steen.

Faulk is 33, played in all situations for St. Louis this season, and though he makes $6.5 million against the cap, he’s owed just $4.5 million in actual salary in both of the last two years of his deal. The other wrinkle is that while Faulk had a full no-trade clause through 2024-25 in his contract that changes to a 15-team no-trade list this summer.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/re ... is-summer/

[Cahokanut]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

[Harry S Deals]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

I dont think Justin Faulk and a mid or low level prospect is going to get you much at all. It would be more of a salary dump position dump type of move and Faulk would have to submit his list of teams so its going to be pretty difficult. More realistic may be to just sign a vet RHD who can push Faulk for playing time

[Cahokanut]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

I dont think Justin Faulk and a mid or low level prospect is going to get you much at all. It would be more of a salary dump position dump type of move and Faulk would have to submit his list of teams so its going to be pretty difficult. More realistic may be to just sign a vet RHD who can push Faulk for playing time

Faulk isn't our only vet. But he does have value for a team looking for that guy that can stabilize there defense.

We know Army knows how to sell. One of the best. Ive heard.
Faulk is exactly what another team needs. And it's up to Army to convince another that.

[TheJackBurton]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

[Cahokanut]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

[hockey jedi]

I think our return would be higher at the deadline than this summer. He doesn't make some lazy stupid passes, but he competes hard and makes a lot of good plays too. We need him right now more than the quality of return we could get.

[DawgDad]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

Ideally the Blues need one more RD, and it can be a 3rd pairing guy. If they trade Faulk they need TWO and one needs to be top-4. That shouldn't be hard to understand.

The top RD guy in the A was Kessel. If he's still in the organization he'll get another chance in camp. He needs to significantly improve if he winds up playing top-4 on the Blues this season or he will be a problem. He has a chance to be the 3RD but he hs to win the job.

[TheJackBurton]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

It can happen, but odds are if they aren't dominating in the A, they will get absolutely obliterated in the NHL.

That's not the way you progress someone. Now if an injury should happen then sure, but until then, we aren't putting a prospect in a top 4 position when we are looking to to finish 3rd or 4th in our division this year.

[DawgDad]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

It can happen, but odds are if they aren't dominating in the A, they will get absolutely obliterated in the NHL.

That's not the way you progress someone. Now if an injury should happen then sure, but until then, we aren't putting a prospect in a top 4 position when we are looking to to finish 3rd or 4th in our division this year.

3rd or 4th? They would obviously take that but I doubt that's where their sights are set. And no, I don't expect them to win the Division. To be revisited after camp!

[TheJackBurton]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

It can happen, but odds are if they aren't dominating in the A, they will get absolutely obliterated in the NHL.

That's not the way you progress someone. Now if an injury should happen then sure, but until then, we aren't putting a prospect in a top 4 position when we are looking to to finish 3rd or 4th in our division this year.

3rd or 4th? They would obviously take that but I doubt that's where their sights are set. And no, I don't expect them to win the Division. To be revisited after camp!

To go from the #8 wildcard to 2nd or 1st would be a massive leap that I don't think they are there quite yet.

3rd or 4th is very reasonable. The Avs as long as Mackinnon is still Mackinnon will always be a favorite to win the division. Dallas might take a few steps back, but that means maybe 10 points less. Winnipeg I can absolutely see falling back to the crowd, but even then likely the lowest would be 3rd.

That's not to mention that Utah will likely be better and Minnesota will have about 15 million or more to spend in UFA.

It would be great if the Central could just take a few years off from being the best division in just about all of professional sports.

[netboy65]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

It can happen, but odds are if they aren't dominating in the A, they will get absolutely obliterated in the NHL.

That's not the way you progress someone. Now if an injury should happen then sure, but until then, we aren't putting a prospect in a top 4 position when we are looking to to finish 3rd or 4th in our division this year.

3rd or 4th? They would obviously take that but I doubt that's where their sights are set. And no, I don't expect them to win the Division. To be revisited after camp!

To go from the #8 wildcard to 2nd or 1st would be a massive leap that I don't think they are there quite yet.

3rd or 4th is very reasonable. The Avs as long as Mackinnon is still Mackinnon will always be a favorite to win the division. Dallas might take a few steps back, but that means maybe 10 points less. Winnipeg I can absolutely see falling back to the crowd, but even then likely the lowest would be 3rd.

That's not to mention that Utah will likely be better and Minnesota will have about 15 million or more to spend in UFA.

It would be great if the Central could just take a few years off from being the best division in just about all of professional sports.

Whatever happened to Schueneman? Is he LD also? 3rd pair potential?

[moose-and-squirrel]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

It can happen, but odds are if they aren't dominating in the A, they will get absolutely obliterated in the NHL.

That's not the way you progress someone. Now if an injury should happen then sure, but until then, we aren't putting a prospect in a top 4 position when we are looking to to finish 3rd or 4th in our division this year.

3rd or 4th? They would obviously take that but I doubt that's where their sights are set. And no, I don't expect them to win the Division. To be revisited after camp!

To go from the #8 wildcard to 2nd or 1st would be a massive leap that I don't think they are there quite yet.

3rd or 4th is very reasonable. The Avs as long as Mackinnon is still Mackinnon will always be a favorite to win the division. Dallas might take a few steps back, but that means maybe 10 points less. Winnipeg I can absolutely see falling back to the crowd, but even then likely the lowest would be 3rd.

That's not to mention that Utah will likely be better and Minnesota will have about 15 million or more to spend in UFA.

It would be great if the Central could just take a few years off from being the best division in just about all of professional sports.

Whatever happened to Schueneman? Is he LD also? 3rd pair potential?

yup.. another lefty. can he play the right side? dunno

from what little we got to see of him, I really liked his game

[netboy65]

We should 100% be looking to package a vet with bottom six or Dean/Leo type prospect, and our first. For a young center that could fill out 2c position.

Every year other teams are able to trade for youth. We can do that too. There are many other "Holloways out there. Kids who are being misused or not used because of a contract. That we could find.

Carolina, New Jersey and LA all have our guy.

Unless we find a top 4 RHD somewhere else, we aren't trading Faulk.

Tucker wasn't ready until he was given the time and opportunity too.
We have way to many seasoned enough defenders in the A. All could go a route that doesn't bring them up at 24 to just get them ready for another team to use.

It can happen, but odds are if they aren't dominating in the A, they will get absolutely obliterated in the NHL.

That's not the way you progress someone. Now if an injury should happen then sure, but until then, we aren't putting a prospect in a top 4 position when we are looking to to finish 3rd or 4th in our division this year.

3rd or 4th? They would obviously take that but I doubt that's where their sights are set. And no, I don't expect them to win the Division. To be revisited after camp!

To go from the #8 wildcard to 2nd or 1st would be a massive leap that I don't think they are there quite yet.

3rd or 4th is very reasonable. The Avs as long as Mackinnon is still Mackinnon will always be a favorite to win the division. Dallas might take a few steps back, but that means maybe 10 points less. Winnipeg I can absolutely see falling back to the crowd, but even then likely the lowest would be 3rd.

That's not to mention that Utah will likely be better and Minnesota will have about 15 million or more to spend in UFA.

It would be great if the Central could just take a few years off from being the best division in just about all of professional sports.

Whatever happened to Schueneman? Is he LD also? 3rd pair potential?

yup.. another lefty. can he play the right side? dunno

from what little we got to see of him, I really liked his game

Yeah, I did too. Not spectacular but steady. Reminded me of Gunnerson

[skilles]

I don't know why we would trade Faulk, he is a solid player in a position of need and high demand. We should probably be more concerned about replacing him as he ages out than we are getting rid of him now.

[STL fan in MN]

You only trade Faulk if there’s a corresponding trade or signing that’d bring in a better RD. Makes no sense otherwise.

Scheuneman will be 30 when the season starts. He’s no prospect. Just a minor league tweener that’s good as a fill in for a few games.