In the past year, defenseman Justin Faulk has played for Team USA in the IIHF World Junior Championship and won an NCAA championship with Minnesota-Duluth as a freshman.
"I guess I can't ask for a better year than that," Faulk said today.
Faulk says he now faces a big decision: return to college for a sophomore season or begin his professional career. The Hurricanes, who made him a second-round pick (37th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, would like to get him in the fold and assign him to the Charlotte Checkers for the AHL playoffs.
"I'm not sure yet what I will do," Faulk said. "I've been talking to an adviser and weighing my options. It sounds like (the Canes) want me to come out for the playoffs with Charlotte, so a decision will have to be soon.
"Going out might be the best thing for me. Or coming back. If I come back, I know I will be playing with a great team. We're trying to figure all that out."
The Bulldogs won their first national championship by topping Michigan 3-2 in overtime in the title game in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota-Duluth will celebrate the championship in a ceremony tonight on campus, Faulk said.
"Playing college hockey this year was good for me," Faulk said. "I was able to grow and mature as a player, and work on all aspects of my game."
Faulk played in the World Junior in Buffalo, N.Y., with Brian Dumoulin, a defenseman taken by the Canes in the second round of the 2009 draft. Dumoulin won an NCAA title with Boston College as a freshman in 2010 and played for the Eagles this season. He recently announced he planned to return to BC for his junior year.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Done Deal
Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:07 — FuquayCaniacRALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Justin Faulk on a three-year, entry-level contract. Beginning with the 2011-12 season, the contract will pay Faulk an average of $750,000 per season at the NHL level or $67,500 per season at the minor-league level. Faulk will receive a $270,000 signing bonus as a part of the contract, and will immediately join the Hurricanes’ top minor-league affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL), for the Calder Cup playoffs.
STAY IN SCHOOL!
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 08:49 — Caniac5That's the best advice I can give. An education is so important in today's society and I think we rush to get kids to go pro too fast. He has time! Get bigger, stronger, and better in college and get your education.
The NHL and the Canes will be here...I hope in today's economy!
GO CANES!!
Faulk can get his degree by
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 11:24 — hellfishFaulk can get his degree by transfering to 1 of the schools here...and play in the NHL/AHL what's to know except getting injured in college and not getting a chance in the NHL... He can't go any higher after winning a NCAA title anyway.
?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 09:06 — CharlotteCaniacComments like this always confuse me. You don't have to be in your late teens or early 20's to go to college. If he is ready to turn pro and it is the best move for his hockey career, then he should do it. You can always go back and get your education. College will still be there too.
This isn't Jack Johnson
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 09:18 — CanarseThis guy is a second round pick. He isn't going to make big bucks going to the AHL. The value of a college scholarship is pretty strong. Sure, he can go back to school on his own dime, but not many do. This guy isn't a top 5 pick, so comparing him to Jack Johnson is crazy. If he were my son I'd tell him to stay in school unless they want to give you quite a bit of cash.
Huh?
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 10:45 — CharlotteCaniacI never compared him to Jack Johnson, where did that come from?
My guess is he would probably get a signing bonus somewhere in the $125,000 range, with an AHL base of $55K and league minimum at the NHL. Pretty standard package for these guys.
Undergraduate tuition at UMD is $10K a year. He already has a year under his belt, so lets assume he has $30K left from here forward. Pay the taxes on your $125K bonus, set aside $30K, and the scholarship is a non-issue.
Bottom line here, if he wants to try and make hockey a career, and it is better for his career to develop in the AHL, then make the jump.
I wouldn't want you
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 14:42 — CanarseI wouldn't want you advising any of my kids. $10K a year for college? Do you think he needs a home and food? Do you think once he's considered a non-resident it will still be $10K? How about after he lives in NC for a few years? Not a smart move.
Let's say the kid does make it to the NHL. An average career of a couple of years around $750K. That's not enough money to live on for the next 50+ years. This is the fools gold sold these kids all the time. Dreams of the big money end up instead with no education, no good employment opportunities, no money and long-term pains and injuries.
Give me a break!
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 15:35 — CharlotteCaniacI said tuition was $10K. Excuse me. Set aside more of the signing bonus for an education down the road or concurent with his professional hockey career.
Are you warped enough to think that he is worthless after he plays a couple of years for "750K" as you say? Is he incapable of returning to school at that time? Is he incapable of SAVING any of that money over "a couple of years"?
So he finishes the 4 years at Duluth, gets the "Business" degree he is pursuing, and then plays hockey for "a couple of year". How is that any different than school for a year, playing for a "couple of years" and then returning to school for 3 years if it doesn't pan out? At least in that situation his college education wouldn't have been sitting on the shelf collecting dust.
"No Education" is a choice, whether it be now or 10 years from now. "No Good Employment Opportunities" are reflective of that choice AND the current economy.
Life
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 17:31 — CanarseLife happens in the meantime. What if he gets married and starts a family? Then what? Can he afford to go back to school then? There is a reason kids go to school when they do. You make it sound so easy. It isn't. We're discussing a decision that will effect the rest of his life. Leaving now is a much higher risk decision than staying, maybe even taking extra classes and graduating after 3 years.
BTW...An education doesn't sit on the shelf collecting dust.
At no point did I use the term worthless. You did that. If you are planning your future a college degree equates to a much higher standard of living, even in this economy.
"Give me a break" indeed.
I wouldn't want you
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 14:42 — CanarseI wouldn't want you advising any of my kids. $10K a year for college? Do you think he needs a home and food? Do you think once he's considered a non-resident it will still be $10K? How about after he lives in NC for a few years? Not a smart move.
Let's say the kid does make it to the NHL. An average career of a couple of years around $750K. That's not enough money to live on for the next 50+ years. This is the fools gold sold these kids all the time. Dreams of the big money end up instead with no education, no good employment opportunities, no money and long-term pains and injuries.
The signing bonus the 'Canes
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:18 — imayagainknowantonThe signing bonus the 'Canes usually give to players drafted in the first two rounds is actually $262,500. To go with 65k per year in the AHL, that would give Faulk $457,500 (before taxes) even if he were to be a complete bust, not play a single NHL game in three years and not get a contract after this one.
$457,000
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 14:44 — CanarseHe won't get the average of the first two rounds. He's on the bottom of that list. $457,000 is still not enough cash to make up for the value of an education. Be real. How many guys go back once they are older? Bad advise that seems to be based upon the wants of fans and management to have as many players as they can as soon as they can.
If I'm understanding you
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 16:06 — imayagainknowantonIf I'm understanding you correctly, why won't he get that signing bonus? Dalpe was drafted 45th overall and got that signing bonus, as did Bowman at 72nd overall. McBain was drafted 63rd and got a 250k signing bonus. Why wouldn't Faulk at 37th get that bonus?
Second, the 457k is the absolute worst case scenario: that Faulk is a complete bust and never plays a NHL game or gets another contract from anyone anywhere to play hockey.
Which is about as likely as Faulk electing to not sign, then suffering a career ending injury next season and not getting any money.
My Mistake
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 17:35 — CanarseI misread your post. I thought you used the term average. You did not.
I still contend that chances are he will never be a regular NHL player. How many NHL defensemen have the Hurricanes developed lately? AHL contracts are reasonable, but not lucrative. That signing bonus will be about all he would have in that situation. I'll take a college degree every time. $457 is still nowhere near enough cash.
You crack me up.
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 20:29 — CharlotteCaniacYou crack me up. Seriously. $457,000 for what you claim would be a two year experiment. And lets not forget his salary, which would likely be in the $60K range. IN WHAT WORLD would that not be a good trade off to delay an education by a couple years. You once again fail to have any solid basis for an argument. He is a "Business" major. What exactly is that? And last time I checked, Minnesota-Duluth isn't exactly a top tier university. How old is he? 18? In two years he will be 21. Plenty of 21 year olds in school who haven't got married or had kids, as you claim would be plausible. I guess thats how it works where ever you are from ::roll eyes::
Two year
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 20:53 — CanarseI did not claim it would be a two year experiment. Once the kid is in the AHL do you really think he'll give up on his dream in two years? No, he'll play for 6,8 or 10 years. Maybe he'll make the NHL and make the big bucks, but IMO, likely not. Take a look at Brian Rodney's career stats. I hope he's got a plan when he is finally done. Let's say Brian Rodney has $457K in the bank. That would be nice, but not nearly as nice as a degree.
Yeah, business degrees are worthless. No one hires business majors. Your lack of knowledge is stunning.
"Business" major. Very
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 21:19 — CharlotteCaniac"Business" major. Very generic. Don't know who you work for, but in the big boy world we look for specialists.
If Rodney has $450K in the bank he will be fine. I'm sure, if he chooses to do so, he can defeat your poorly architected fallacy and go back to school and be successful.
Have fun in your "big boy
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 22:42 — CanarseHave fun in your "big boy world."
Didn't mean to make such a stink...LOL
Fri, 04/15/2011 - 09:07 — Caniac5Hey people, I in no way meant to make such a stink about this topic. I merely stated my opinion and something happened from there.
But, to chime in again...(oh no, what will this bring)...I went straight into the military after high school. I went to college while serving and got my two year degree. It was not easy serving and going to school. You have no time to "enjoy life" at the early age AND the pier pressure was tremendous on me to party instead of pursuing my education. Now, I know I did not have a chance to make big bucks like might be offered to this young player BUT I know the percentage of him actually attending school while playing....SLIM!
After I served 10 years, I got out due to getting married and my wife not wanting me to be in anymore. I went back to school and was totally out of place. I had a hard time getting back into it, was thinking about bills, how they would be paid, and everything else. We started a family, letting things happen if they did, and within 4 years, I had 2 kids. I had to go to work due to baby expenses and family life and did not finish my 4 year degree.
Where am I going with this posting? It's not as easy as you think to work, go to school, and get older in the process. Yes, this kid could make a lot more money than I did but he could also get an injury, like MO, and never play again. Then he will be out of a career and an education...possible. It's all a big game of chance and I would rather take the for-sure road than the maybe road.
So, he can get bigger and stronger in school, more experience and an education by staying in school or jump to the AHL and try to go to school and make more money. If he were my kid, I would advise him to stay in school.
Just MY opinion!
we don't need
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 13:45 — louis12580another Jack Johnson situation.
Jack Johnson would be
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 11:19 — hellfishJack Johnson would be wearing a stanley cup ring if not for a poor decision...He could've transfered to any of the triangle colleges and had his name on the cup ,which he may never have the chance again...+ Did'nt Johnson leave school anyway for the Kings?
Jack Johnson probably would
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 12:26 — imayagainknowantonJack Johnson probably would have either cost the 'Canes the Cup or sat in the press box for the duration of the playoffs. He's still completely terrible defensively at age 24....at age 19, he would have been a trainwreck.
Who knows if that will be
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 18:50 — ncsurveygirlWho knows if that will be the case, but I sure hope not. Boy do I hate that guy, if Willie wasnt on his team, I would totally despise them. I guess I can hold a grudge, lol!
Don't think that is the case
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 15:26 — Hockeydad92Everything I have heard about this kid leads me to believe he is solid and just needs to weigh the jump to the AHL from his college team that just won it all. Johnson was offered a spot on the NHL roster and turned his nose at that and basically at Carolina. I think Faulk is going to be a real good player for us for a long time, just kinda hard to walk away from that kind of success at his age knowing the AHL and soon thereafter the NHL is going to be there for him barring injury.
nor do I
Wed, 04/13/2011 - 22:03 — louis12580I don't think that will be the case, either. There were those who thought that the 'Canes put the squeeze on Johnson to sign right after his freshman season at Michigan. I don't think that will be repeated with Faulk. When you add up the number of games he's played for UM-D and in the World Juniors, it probably approaches 50. Couple that with his course work and he's most likely a bit worn out physically as well as mentally.