Blues Acquire Radek Faksa and Mathieu Joseph in Recent Trades

The St. Louis Blues have made some strategic moves to bolster their bottom-six forwards with the acquisition of center Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars and right winger Mathieu Joseph from the Ottawa Senators. The team announced these trades on Tuesday, providing the Stars and the Senators with "future considerations" in exchange, without giving up any players or assets.

In the trade with the Dallas Stars, the Blues have secured the services of Radek Faksa, a 30-year-old center who has been a mainstay with the Stars since being drafted by them in 2012 as the 13th overall pick. Standing at an imposing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Faksa has played 638 games for the Stars, recording 89 goals and 200 points. Last season, he played a vital role as the fourth-line center, notching seven goals and 19 points in 74 games. Faksa is entering the final year of his contract with a salary-cap hit of $3.25 million.

Meanwhile, Mathieu Joseph joins the Blues from the Ottawa Senators. The 27-year-old right winger was drafted in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015 and was part of their Stanley Cup-winning team in 2021. Throughout his career, Joseph has played 360 games for both the Lightning and the Senators, tallying 55 goals and 135 points. In the 2022 season, he was traded along with a fourth-round pick to the Senators in exchange for forward Nick Paul. Joseph spent the last 2 1/2 seasons with Ottawa, where he recorded 11 goals and 35 points in 72 games last season. He still has two years remaining on his contract, with a cap hit of $2.95 million.

General Manager Doug Armstrong's recent moves demonstrate his determination to strengthen the Blues' depth in the bottom-six forward positions. Adding the experience and versatility of Faksa, along with the offensive prowess of Joseph, should provide a boost to the team's overall performance.

These trades significantly impact the Blues' roster as they head into the upcoming season. With Faksa and Joseph now being part of the team's forward line-up, the Blues aim to improve their competitiveness on the ice and strive for a successful campaign.

The Blues anticipate that these new acquisitions, combined with the existing talent and leadership within the team, will enable them to contend for a playoff spot and potentially make a deep postseason run.

The financial aspects of the trades indicate that there was no salary retention involved in either transaction, according to a team source. In addition, the Blues will also receive a 2025 third-round pick in the trade for Mathieu Joseph.

Fans eagerly anticipate seeing Faksa and Joseph donning the Blues' jersey and making an impact on the team's quest for success in the upcoming season.