The St. Louis Blues attempted to trade Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres, but their defenseman nixed it. Now, there is a belief that they could still trade him to a different team, according to ESPN insider Ryan Clark.
“The Ducks are a returning playoff team and appear to be one that could challenge the Western Conference power dynamic in the years to come, it’s possible that Parayko could accept going to Anaheim; that allows the Blues to acquire capital for the future while clearing Parayko’s cap hit,” Clark wrote.
Clark also noted that the Ducks are now a playoff team, which could pique Parayko’s interest. Additionally, they could stand to lose three veteran defensemen, which could motivate them to seek one via trade. It was an awkward time for Parayko, as he sat and waited while the Blues attempted to trade him. Parayko stayed the course in St. Louis and finished the rest of the season with the Blues.
Parayko had nine goals and 33 overall points. However, his underlying numbers were positive. Parayko finished with a plus/minus of +28, while also blocking 172 shots. Clark emphasized what he could bring to Anaheim.
“He (Parayko) would give the Ducks an experienced top-pairing, right-handed shot who can play heavy minutes. He would come at a cost both in terms of capital and salary, but would be a strong starting point toward adding to a defense that gave up too many high-danger scoring chances in the regular season,” Clark added.
The NHL offseason has just begun, but there have already been a few trades. If the Blues look to ship Parayko, the Ducks could be an option this offseason.
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