Originally Posted by dyzfunctioned

Issue... He's defensively responsible. That makes him one of a few in Carolina. They have plenty of PP options but not so many defensive options. Makes it easier to utilize him in a heavy minutes/PK role rather than a more offensive role which thus limits his upside. And with McBain/Corvo/Pitkanen and Murphy on the way I don't see this changing.

Meanwhile, Schultz basically is being handed the #1PPQB role behind a core of young star forwards.

Originally Posted by Buck Fush

Everyone's talking about Justin Schultz and his red hot start this season in the AHL, but Justin Faulk is right up there among the league leaders as well with 2-9-11 in 7 gp. When you consider that he is a full two years younger than Schultz I think his numbers are even more impressive. I think many poolies don't realize just how extraordinarily good Faulks development has been over the past year; highlighted by a brilliant showing at the WC (4-4-8, +7 in 8 gp). A few GMs in my league were surprised when i took faulk 8th ov in our entry draft this summer ahead of the likes of Murray, Dumba, Rielly, Gardiner among others. but i am a huge believer in him, not just because of his on ice skill but his dedication to the game; he reminds me of kris letang in that sense. This kid is going to burst onto the fantasy scene in the very near future and I recommend acquiring him while the price is still reasonable.

Don't just take it from me, here's canes GM Jim Rutherford with some pretty high praise:
"Yes," he said during his annual "State of the Canes" address to fans. "Playing defense in the NHL is very difficult and playing at 19 is even more difficult. But as long as I've been around the game, even as far back as when I played, I've never seen anyone handle the position like Justin Faulk has as a teenager." The organization is certainly holding out hope that Faulk is able to duplicate that effort in 2012-13 in order to create some measure of continuity along the back end. "We've had defensemen come into the League like [Bobby] Orr, [Denis] Potvin and [Phil] Housley, who were great offensive players, but I've never seen a player play so well defensively and offensively at his age," Rutherford said. "I can't describe it well enough to tell [fans] what they're in store for having this great young player." (Source: nhl.com)