After he nixed a trade that would have sent him to Buffalo, there was still some speculation that Blues defenseman Colton Parayko would approve a trade to a team that he’d be more interested in going to. However, that won’t be the case. On today’s TradeCentre broadcast on TSN (video link), Pierre LeBrun reported that the blueliner will not be waiving his no-trade protection before today’s trade deadline.
The 32-year-old has been a fixture on the back end in St. Louis for more than a decade now while making multiple international appearances as well, including in last month’s Olympics. That track record was enough to elicit what would have been a strong return from the Sabres, one that was believed to have included a top prospect in Radim Mrtka and a first-round pick, even though Parayko is in the middle of a down season offensively.
After putting up career highs in goals (16) and points (36) last season, he has just one tally along with 13 assists in 58 games this season and is now currently sidelined with back spasms. However, Parayko is still logging over 22 minutes of playing time per night with tough defensive matchups.
Parayko has four years left on his contract after this one with a $6.5MM price tag so it’s reasonable to think that his market would still be strong should teams decide to make a pitch for his services in the offseason. At that time, he might be more open to move depending on what the landscape is at the time while not having to immediately uproot his family.
In the meantime, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this result in an uptick in interest in another St. Louis right-shot defender, Justin Faulk. Signed through next season at a $6.5MM price tag, the 33-year-old has been speculated to be in play in recent days and doesn’t have full trade protection like Parayko, just a 15-team no-trade list. With the Blues unable to get anything for Parayko right now, GM Doug Armstrong redoubling his efforts to ensure he gets a strong return for Faulk and cash in on the demand for impact defenders would make a lot of sense.
GM Doug Armstrong redoubling his efforts to ensure he gets a strong return for Faulk
Redoubling his efforts? What is the Emperor not pleased????
As for Colton Parayko: would approve a trade to a team that he’d be more interested in going to. How could there possibly be anyone more interesting than the Buffalo Sabres? Hey, I won’t miss him as a Sabres fan, if a player does not want to be there, I don’t want him!!!!
I hope your day gets better.
Yours as well and you need to re-double your efforts!!
Wow, epic blast. You sure told him.
He has more common sense than to live in New York.
I mean part of the reason you sign a NTC is precisely to say, “Nah, I move on my own terms.” Buddy wants to stay in St. Lou? Good on ‘im.
I love when players use these clauses. It is exactly why they are negotiated into the contract and carry value for the player. If anyone is upset, blame the GM.
I’ll say it, I think these NMC’s are getting way out of hand. I think they need to get removed altogether. For all the players. You’re getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport. If you don’t want to go to Buffalo, then the world needs plenty of bartenders.
I can’t tell who the troll accounts are anymore & who just has genuinely clueless boomer takes.
It helps if we just collectively assume every bad take is a WilfPaiement alt account.
I mean, they’re definitely not, but he sure was a great poster child for “ludicrous boomer-coded takes”.
One reason the teams are willing to give them is it often comes with a lower AAV, for example if a player’s base salary is 8M with no NTC instead of 6M with one, they might be just as hard to trade as if they had a NMC. No reason to slam the player or the GM when they are part of a contract, it was negotiated together.
Yeah, the nerve of these guys wanting some control over where they live and work.
This take is stupid. NMCs are negotiated and sometimes used to get a deal done within the confines of the cap and competition from other teams. It is the players right to exercise it.
Buffalo dodged a bullet. About to turn 33. Bad back. No offense. In decline. Not a guy they really need, or that’s going to put them over the top. Signed for four more years.
Mrtka will be a better player than he is in two seasons, at most. Parayko saved Kekalainen from himself.
I mean he is a big dude but doesn’t really use his size as he’s kinda soft
Mrtka would be lucky to turn into the player Parayko is.
Yeah, he would. If he has half as good a career as Parayko the Sabres or whatever team they trade him to should be thrilled.
That’s not the point I was making. The point was that 21 year old Mrtka will be a better player than 35 year old Parayko.
Think CP is definitely hurt. Doesn’t have the same jump. Maybe just shut him down for awhile.
Great to see a player use his rights to staying put.