Photo: Last Word on Hockey

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have acquired defenseman Joel Edmundson, forward prospect Dominik Bokk, and a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Justin Faulk and a fifth-round pick in next summer’s NHL Draft. In addition, the Blues announced that they have signed Faulk, who could have become an unrestricted free agent after 2019-20, to a seven-year contract extension that carries a cap hit of $6.5 million.

TRADE ALERT! #stlblues acquire Justin Faulk and a fifth-round pick in 2020 from the Carolina Hurricanes.

DETAILS: https://t.co/muPb1xWQmR pic.twitter.com/bMY7ZewpXr

— St. Louis Blues 🏆 (@StLouisBlues) September 24, 2019

The trade ends months of trade speculation surrounding Faulk, who reportedly vetoed a trade that would have sent him to the Anaheim Ducks earlier this month, after the Hurricanes signed unrestricted free agent defensemen Fredrik Claesson and Jake Gardiner just prior to training camp. They were reportedly looking for help up front after they averaged 2.96 goals-per-game last season, which was 16th in the league, but were unable to get it in the trade with St. Louis.

Edmundson, 26, posted two goals, 11 points, and a +8 rating in 64 regular-season games and one goal, seven points, and a -2 rating in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Blues last season after setting career-highs in goals (seven) and points (17) in 2017-18. The Blues’ 2011 second-round pick has 13 goals, 52 points, and a +18 rating in 269 career NHL games.

Edmundson will likely slide into the third defensive pair in Carolina, meaning Gardiner will likely slide up to the second.

Bokk, 19, was selected 25th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft and recorded eight goals, 23 points, and a -1 rating in 47 regular-season games with the Växjö Lakers Hockey Club of the Swedish league last season.

After staying quiet for the entire summer following their first Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history, the Blues made an upgrade to their defense after they tied the Arizona Coyotes for the fifth-lowest goals-against per game average (2.68) last season.

Faulk, 27, recorded 11 goals, 35 points, and a +9 rating in 82 regular-season games and one goal, eight points, and a +4 rating in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games last season. In 559 career NHL games (all with the Hurricanes), Faulk has tallied 85 goals, 258 points, and a -100 rating. His best season came in 2014-15 when he set career-highs in assists (34) and points (49).

Faulk will likely slide into the Blues’ top-four defense core alongside Jay Bouwmeester.

“We’d like to thank Justin for both his on-ice and off-ice contributions during his time with the Hurricanes. He was a great teammate and made a significant impact on the community, and we wish him all the best moving forward.,” said Waddell.

After the trade, the Hurricanes are $521,458 over the NHL salary cap.