Faulk... maybe.
One of the things about prospects is that stepping between levels isn't the same for everybody. Some guys can be a 9.0 in their junior league (Landeskog) and then make a jump to the NHL and still be an 8.0. Other guys can be a 9.0 (Robbie Schremp) and then the jump to the NHL isn't something they can handle. Some guys can dominate in juniors or the AHL and then just can't make the step to the NHL.
I completely agree that Faulk has looked great at junior levels, but I'm still a doubter that he'll make a jump to the upper-tier of offensive NHL defensemen.
Additionally, most teams (such as CAR) prefer to run their PP D-men as one lefty & one righty to open up shooting lanes.
Carolina's
defensemen:
LEFTIES:
Joni Pitkanen
Jaro Spacek
Tim Gleason
RIGHTIES:
Joe Corvo
Justin Faulk
Jamie McBain
Ryan Murphy
There's quite a bit of offensive competition on the Right-side for PP-time in Carolina.
They just signed Joe Corvo (a less-than-stellar defensive defenseman), which would be a very questionable move if they don't play him on the PP.
If Faulk can get that PP1 time, he's going to be a very nice fantasy hockey asset.
But can he beat the rest of that group short-and-long term for that spot... I don't know... {EDIT: based on the aging Pitkanen & Corvo's one-year contract, I'd say he'll be on PP1 within a year.}
