The St. Louis Blues have only a few more hours before their future is decided. It almost got a head start with the trade of Colton Parayko to Buffalo, but he decided to not waive his No-Trade Clause and voiding the move.
There are two sides to this story, and both are equally as important.
Showing loyalty
One, Parayko showed his loyalty to the Blues, to a point. He declined to waive his clause and voided the trade to Buffalo, but it did not secure his place on this team post-deadline. General Manager Doug Armstrong can still put some feelers out there for a potential deal, in which again, Parayko would need to approve.
But this move by No. 55 shows that he is invested in the only team he has ever represented in the NHL. This is home, and uprooting him is not going to be easy. He is nearing the top of the charts for games played for this franchise, and despite the abysmal season, he is not too old to turn it around in the near future.
Should have remained behind closed doors
The other issue with this near-deal was the public eye. Even us at Bleedin' Blue were certain that this deal was as good as done, but reporting on it before getting clearance from the only person who can make-or-break the deal should have remained behind closed doors.
These No-Trade Clauses are tricky to move, and instead of relying on the decision of the General Manager or President, the final decision rests on the player. This was seen with the New York Rangers last season, when their ex-captain Jacob Trouba denied a trade to Detroit because his wife had just gotten a medical residency in Manhattan. The Rangers, and President/General Manager Chris Drury, tried to put the pressure on him to waive his No-Trade Clause, but was ultimately denied by Trouba.
This situation with Parayko was not nearly as messy, but it sure was just as public. We will all see what happens with the defenseman by 3 PM today.