...I think so. Roman Josi and Justin Faulk are a little different in terms of style. Josi is a little more of the pure puck-moving/skating type of defenseman with a high offensive ceiling. Justin Faulk brings a little more size, sturdiness and physical component but still in a mobile all-around defenseman who will also contribute offensively. But in terms of basic role, development and contract status, they are incredibly similar.

Josi just turned 23, will be entering his 3rd NHL campaign in 2013-14 and is coming off a phenomenal season where he matured into a solid top 4 who has a perfect complementary skill set for Preds anchor Shea Weber. Faulk will turn 22 during the 2013-14 season and is similarly entering his 3rd NHL season. Though he has not found a long-term blue line partner like Josi, Faulk's 2013 season was a huge breakout where he proved capable of solid top 4 minutes regardless of who he was playing with. Faulk is signed for 2013-14 but will be an RFA looking for his next contract next summer.

Yesterday Nashville decided that they had seen enough of Josi to make a long-term commitment inking him to a 7 year $28M deal (so $4M/year). $4M/year for a 2nd contract for an RFA who is only a couple years deep in the NHL still seems high to a cheapskate like me, but it is very much the norm for the new NHL.

I think this very much sets the range for Justin Faulk's next contract. If the Canes want to go a bit shorter and not take as many UFA years in the next deal, then I think the price could be a little cheaper than the extended 7-year Josi deal. So a slightly shorter contract would probably be something like 3 years at $10-11M (so $3.3-3.7M). A longer deal starts to look more like Josi's at maybe 5 years at $18-20M ($3.6-4.0M).

In recent years, Rutherford has been much more aggressive re-signing impending UFAs during the season (i.e. Ruutu) and re-upping players before their current contract expired (i.e. Skinnner and JStaal). The Canes are shallow on the blue line both in terms of current veterans and even more so youth that is likely to help soon. I don't see any possible formula for the Canes blue line going forward that does not include Justin Faulk playing a key role. My hunch is that he gets re-signed late July/early August for 4-5 years at just under $4M/year.

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