(Photo credit: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)

By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18

In six days, the Boston Bruins will resume play after the National Hockey League’s 2026 Winter Olympic break concludes. The first game the Bruins will play after the Olympic break is against the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a game that will have an impact on the Eastern Conference standings. During the break, rumors and projections have the Bruins upgrading their defense before the trade deadline.

Defensemen Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues and Braden Schneider of the New York Rangers are two defensemen who have been connected to the Bruins. Now, another projection of Faulk going to the Bruins has been made. Earlier today, Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson wrote an article titled “BS Meter on the Latest Rumors 2 Weeks from the NHL Trade Deadline.”

“Could the Boston Bruins acquire Justin Faulk?” was a question asked by Richardson in his article. On a “BS meter” from Richardson, he said that it’s not bs that the Bruins can acquire Faulk from the Blues.

Richardson mentioned that James Murphy of RG.org stated that the Bruins were among multiple teams interested in acquiring Faulk, in an article from three days ago. After losing out on Rasmus Andersson, who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights from the Calgary Flames, Sweeney has pursuing Faulk for the past month in an attempt to get another defenseman at the deadline.

Richardson also mentioned that Sweeney’s attempt to land Andersson was part of his ongoing retool that has put the Bruins back in a playoff position. The Bruins currently sit in the second Wild Card spot with 69 points, but need improvement on defense. Now, Faulk is in more rumors and projections to be traded to the Bruins, and is on Sweeney’s mind.

“It would be understandable that he’d shift his focus to Faulk,” Richardson said about Sweeney pursuing Faulk. “But it remains to be seen if he’ll have better luck with him.”

Faulk’s age and contract can be a concern for the Bruins to take on. Faulk has one year remaining on his contract at a salary of $6.5 million, and will turn 34 years old on March 20. What could hurt the Bruins is that with multiple teams interested in Faulk, they may have to be the highest bidder to acquire him. The Blues are expected to dump players at the deadline to rebuild, having the second-worst record in the Western Conference. After all, the Blues traded Nick Bjustad to the New Jersey Devils before the Olympic break.

With Andrew Peeke and Henri Jokiharju, the Bruins need a better second option for a right-handed defenseman next to Charlie McAvoy. Faulk can do that, as he’s been one of the few bright spots on the Blues this season. Faulk’s 30 points lead all Blues defensemen and are the fourth-most on the roster. Besides McAvoy, no other Bruins defenseman on the roster has 25 points, and that is where Faulk can be an option.

Faulk can be a player who will help Sweeney’s plan of retooling. However, the Bruins can’t overpay to trade for a player in his soon-to-be mid-30s, but Faulk could be the best option for a right-handed defenseman who can improve the Bruins defense.