St. Louis Blues: Colton Parayko contract was a bargain given defensemen market

By Joseph Schneider |

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 26: Colton Parayko

The St. Louis Blues have locked up another homegrown defensemen long-term, signing Colton Parayko to a five-year extension worth $27.5 million.

Colton Parayko avoids arbitration with the contract, making him the team’s highest paid defensemen annually besides Alex Pietrangelo. Both are signed through at least the 2019-20 season, helping the Blues refine a defensive core that has led to six straight playoff births.

The 23 year-old has averaged 34 points and 91 hits in his first two seasons, a two-way presence that created urgency for a long-term contract. He also contributed two goals and three assists over playoffs, averaging above 23 minutes of ice time in the first two rounds.

With all other Blues defensemen on the active roster signed for no more than two seasons, Parayko offers the team depth, longevity and reassurance at the blue line. The extension also makes sense given how the market for defensemen has shaped for the team and elsewhere around the league in recent years.

In particular, Parayko emerges to a role occupied by Kevin Shattenkirk last season, who the Blues dealt at the trade deadline for a first-round draft pick and more. Shattenkirk signed a 4-year, $26.6 million contract with the New York Rangers on the first day of free agency.

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Since the Blues have only around $3 million in cap space, investing in Parayko rather than holding on to Shattenkirk through the end of the season and gambling on a return made sense. Not only did Parayko’s contract save the Blues roughly $1 million annually that could have been spent on a similar Shattenkirk contract, but it offers the team a younger body by nearly five years.

The investment also looks like a wiser recipe for goal production with Parayko’s plus/minus rating of +35 over his first 160 games. That is opposed to Shattenkirk’s -25 in his last 133 games with St. Louis. Not to mention, Parayko could be the first Blue to clock 100 mph on a snapshot consistently since Al MacInnis.

Within the organization, Parayko’s contract is relatively similar to a five-year, $27 million extension given to Jay Bouwmeester in 2013. That contract was perhaps paying more for what he had accomplished through his NHL career with two Top 20 Norris finishes and eight seasons without missing a game prior to joining.

Parayko’s contract is more forward-looking in regards to what he can contribute, as he is just the second player to receive a new contract longer than a year since Mike Yeo took over coaching. Production should increase in most offensive and defensive categories as well as Parayko gains more experience and takes on larger special teams roles.

In relation to other restricted and unrestricted free agents signings, Parayko matches up well with Justin Schultz (3 yr, $16.5 million) and Karl Alzner (5 yr, $23.125 million). The two Eastern Conference blue liners both hold defined individual strengths with Schultz posting a +27 and 20 power play points and Alzner not missing a game to injury since the 2009-10 season.

But these contracts might only be suitable after performing well for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and Presidents trophies winners respectively. Parayko has a chance to be a leader to such heights rather than a follower to an extent, as the Blues have yet to win the division or reach past the Western Conference Finals with him.

Above all, Colton Parayko fulfills imminent needs for St. Louis and allows the team to build a defensive core around him and Pietrangelo for years to come. Contracts set aside, Parayko has an opportunity to develop into one of the team’s most valuable assets next season and set a precedent for future blue liners moving forward.

Next: St. Louis Blues Extremely Smart with Colton Parayko Contract

The 2017-18 NHL preseason begins for Parayko and the St. Louis Blues on September 19.

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