Franchise icon Colton Parayko enjoyed a career season last year, especially after the coaching shift into the Jim Montgomery era of Blues hockey.
Parayko was a goal-scoring machine last season and paced for 20 or more goals, putting up 16 in 64 games played. Unfortunately, Parayko missed time due to injury that capped the heights of how good his season could have been, but his season-end stats still look quite impressive.
Can a full year of Parayko with Montgomery at the helm mean Blues fans should expect only greatness from the veteran skater?
His potential unlocked?
Parayko scored a career high in goals by a wide margin last season and did so in very encouraging ways. This wasn't just firing pucks at the net that happened to find a hole; he scored a lot of his goals in tight while crashing down towards the net, a new strategy for Parayko.
The Jim Montgomery era of hockey has seen excellent early returns on production from defenseman, and not just Parayko. Cam Fowler also had a bit of a career resurgence, and Philip Broberg entered the league in his first full season of play and is already tearing it up. It seems like defensemen are a crucial part of how Monty likes to coach his strategies.
Not only were Parayko's goals scored in repeatable, reliable ways, but the success of the other defenseman around him would point to further reason to be optimistic. Have we seen a new level of growth in the veteran skater?
Last season, Parayko was tied for 6th among all defensemen in the NHL in goals scored. That isn't just really good production, that is an elite level that only a handful can achieve in a season.
He was just behind Rasmus Dahlin, who had 17 goals in 73 games and was tied with Tomas Harley (16G 78GP) and Quinn Hughes (16G 68GP). Truly elite company to be with.
Any skater can luck into a flukey season, but to ascend to this level of company is almost unheard of, unless there is more in the tank for #55. And even beyond that, there is one more reason to be optimistic.
A track record of health
Throughout his career, Colton Parayko has been available and able for the Blues. Since the shortened bubble season, Parayko has played 80, 79, and 82 games each respective season, all at or around the top of the league.
He is a durable defenseman and is a one-of-a-kind player that Blues fans rightfully celebrate. His consistency and quality of play have always been appreciated in St. Louis, and another terrific season could be right around the corner for the veteran skater.
With a full year of health and a full year of Jim Montgomery orchestrating the product on ice, Parayko could soar to new heights and set another record for his career. He is entering his age-32 season, meaning there is still some good hockey left in him before the aging curve catches up to Parayko.
Blues fans, I'd keep my eye out for a potentially monster year from the star defenseman; from playing with Cam Fowler to coaching under Jim Montgomery and with the young forward core leading the way, all the pieces are in place for Parayko to take off once again this coming season.