In a stunning move, the St. Louis Blues have bolstered their center depth by acquiring Radek Faksa in a trade with the Dallas Stars. This trade sees the Blues sending future considerations to the Stars in exchange for Faksa, who has one year remaining on his contract with a $3.25 million cap hit.
Faksa is expected to slot in as a third-line center for the Blues, behind the likes of Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. Thomas is set to lead the charge as the first-line center, with Buchnevich likely taking on the second-line center role. The addition of Faksa marks the third trade made by the Blues this offseason, following their acquisition of Alexandre Texier from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Czech center has spent his entire NHL career with the Stars, notching a career-high 17 goals in the 2017-18 season. However, for Dallas, this move appears to be more about shedding Faksa’s contract rather than his on-ice contributions. The Stars have been navigating a tight salary cap situation in recent years, which was further complicated by the buyout of defenseman Ryan Suter earlier in the offseason.
With Faksa now in the mix, the Blues’ forward combinations for the upcoming season could see Brayden Schenn centering Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours on the first line, while Brandon Saad, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jordan Kyrou make up the second line. Alexandre Texier could find himself alongside Faksa and prospect Zachary Bolduc on the third line, providing the Blues with added depth down the middle.
It’s clear that the Blues are making moves to strengthen their roster and solidify their chances of contending in the upcoming season. With Faksa’s experience and defensive prowess, he could prove to be a valuable asset for St. Louis as they look to make a deep playoff run. The Blues have certainly made their intentions known with this latest acquisition, adding another key piece to their lineup in pursuit of hockey glory.
