For years, Colton Parayko has been a staple of the St. Louis Blues lineup. Over his 11 seasons with the team, he has appeared in 766 games, which is the fourth most in franchise history. Over that time, he's been a significant contributor, recording 77 goals, 229 assists, and 306 points. He was also instrumental in the Blues' run to the Stanley Cup during the 2018-19 season. It's safe to say that he has cemented his place in Blues history.
While Parayko has established himself as one of the most important players of the last decade, this season has been a different story. He has not been producing the way many have been accustomed to. It's starting to look like Parayko is beginning to decline as a player. With his struggles plus the Blues being on the outside of the playoffs, it's time for them to trade him at the upcoming trade deadline.
Why Colton Parayko will be on his way out of St. Louis
So far this season, Parayko has only registered 11 assists in 43 games. While Parayko was never known for his goal-scoring ability, he had improved in that regard, finding the back of the net 26 times over the past two seasons. So, his not having a goal this season is very concerning. His advanced metrics only make this season look worse. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has a 44.77 CF%, 44.12 GF%, and a 45.96 SF%.
While Parayko has underperformed this season and could be starting to decline, he still has value. He's under contract until the end of the 2029-30 season, and his salary will decrease over the next few seasons. Instead of making eight million, he'll be making between four and a half to six and a half million over the next few seasons. With the cap rising over the next few seasons, this contract will be nothing. It's a contract teams will be happy to take on regardless of Parayko's production.
Several teams would be interested in Parayko's services. Teams like the Lightning, Oilers, and Devils could all be in the market for a new defenseman. Parakyo will land the Blues a couple of mid-round picks at worst. However, if many teams are interested, it could start a bidding war and allow the Blues to land more than they should for Parayko. It's best to sell him while his market is high and try to get the biggest return possible.
Trading Parayko will also allow the young defenseman in the Blues organization. If the Blues decide to sell at the trade deadline, the primary goal would be to develop young players. They need to figure out who can handle the grind of an NHL season. The best way to do this is to give these guys as much run in the NHL as possible. Moving Parayko opens a spot for players like Theo Lindstein and Michael Buchinger. Giving these players a chance to prove they can be reliable players.
While it's hard to move on from a franchise staple like Parayko, it's the best move for the future of the team. It will help the Blues land assets that will help them, and give an opportunity to some of the young defenseman