A potential trade proposal involving the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens could see defenseman Justin Faulk and forward Michael Rasmussen head to Montreal, with Josh Anderson and three draft selections going the other way.
The proposed transaction was created through PuckGM’s trade simulator, but the salary-cap situation makes the idea particularly interesting. Detroit currently has close to $19.5 million in available cap space, while Montreal has only about $2.8 million to work with.
Detroit and Montreal Could Exchange Faulk for Anderson
Faulk, a right-handed defenseman originally selected 37th overall by Carolina in the 2010 NHL Draft, is now 34 years old. Detroit acquired him from St. Louis at the trade deadline in exchange for Justin Holl, prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov and two draft picks.
The veteran defenseman carries a $6.5 million annual cap hit and is entering the final season of the seven-year, $45.5 million contract he signed in 2019. Unless he signs an extension, Faulk is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next July.
Rasmussen would also be included in the hypothetical deal. The 6-foot-6 forward was selected ninth overall by Detroit in 2017 and signed a four-year extension in February 2024 that keeps him under contract through the 2027-28 season.
His offensive numbers dipped last season, when he recorded eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 64 games. That came after he posted a career-best 33 points, including 13 goals and 20 assists, during the 2023-24 campaign.
Montreal’s proposed return would center around Anderson. The physical winger originally joined the Canadiens in a trade with Columbus and subsequently signed a seven-year, $38.5 million extension in 2020.
Anderson has a $5.5 million cap hit and is entering the final year of that contract. He produced 14 goals in 72 regular-season games last season before adding five more goals during Montreal’s run to the 2026 Eastern Conference Final. During the offseason, he was also named an alternate captain.
How the Salary Cap Would Work
The financial side of the proposal is designed to keep the deal relatively balanced.
Under the PuckGM scenario, Detroit would retain $3.3 million of Faulk’s contract as well as $950,000 of Rasmussen’s salary. Montreal would therefore take on approximately $3.2 million of Faulk’s cap hit and $2.25 million of Rasmussen’s.
Detroit, meanwhile, would receive Anderson’s full $5.5 million cap hit.
That structure would essentially make the transaction neutral from a salary-cap perspective for both teams, according to the proposed PuckGM trade.
Detroit’s substantial cap flexibility gives the Red Wings room to explore a move of this type, with roughly $19.5 million in projected space. Montreal has considerably less flexibility, sitting at approximately $2.8 million.
Whether either organization would actually pursue such a complicated exchange remains uncertain, but the proposal illustrates how Detroit’s available cap room could potentially be used to facilitate a significant roster move.
