Buffalo Sabres: Sorry it’s Justin Falk NOT Justin Faulk
By Paul Taylor
It turns out the Buffalo Sabres signed the Justin Falk without a ‘U’ in his surname, but what value does he bring to the organization?
There was some initial excitement when Buffalo Sabres fans started hearing on Friday, that the team had signed Justin Faulk. Had Tim Murray really worked his magic again and secured the services of the Carolina Hurricanes two-time All-Star?
Unfortunately, any excitement quickly dissipated, once people realized it was the Justin Falk without a ‘U’ in his surname. Just like that, Sabres nation had been brought crashing back down to earth.
Okay, admittedly that sounds a little harsh, but it likely did catch some of the vibe after the media, including The Buffalo News‘ Mike Harrington, announced the move. Regardless, what does Falk actually bring to the organization?
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Well, the main positive is that the 27-year old adds another left-shot defenseman to a roster which is lacking in this area. He also provides excellent size on the blue line, standing at 6 ft 5 and 215 lbs.
Just as important, Falk plays a steady game and limits mistakes at his own end of the ice. However, the reality is he is mostly just a depth addition for the Sabres, who will spend most of his time in Rochester, playing for the Amerks.
The 2007 fourth round draft pick has never fully taken advantage of his size, often lacking consistency in his physical game. In addition, hockey analysts point to his limited offensive skills, making points hard to come by.
In that respect, Falk has appeared in 171 games at the NHL level, scoring just two goals and adding 21 assists. He has played for the Minnesota Wild (who drafted him), New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Overall though, it is tough to fault this move from the Sabres, especially when you factor in the financial compensation. The deal is a two-way contract for one year, paying $650,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the AHL.
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Despite gladly admitting not having even one-thousandth of the talent of Justin Falk, let’s have some fun with this one. What was your initial thought if/when you thought the Sabres had signed his Hurricanes namesake and how did you react, once you realized your mistake? Let us know in the comments section below.