The St. Louis Blues’ attempted trade of defenseman Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres fell apart after Parayko nixed the move. Now, a potential path is emerging: a different deal, with the Anaheim Ducks viewed as a realistic fit this offseason.
Colton Parayko’s offseason decision didn’t come in one dramatic moment—it came in silence, through the awkward stretch when he sat and waited while the St. Louis Blues tried to move him to the Buffalo Sabres.
The trade didn’t happen. The defenseman nixed the deal. But the Blues weren’t left with a dead end, at least not in the way the first attempt suggested. There’s now a belief that St. Louis could still trade him to another team, and ESPN insider Ryan Clark points toward a clear possibility: the Ducks.
Clark’s idea is tied to timing and opportunity. He wrote that the Ducks are a returning playoff team and appear to be positioned to challenge the Western Conference power dynamic in the years to come. In that kind of environment. Clark believes Parayko could accept going to Anaheim—an outcome that would let the Blues acquire capital for the future while also clearing Parayko’s cap hit.
The motivation may go both directions. Clark also flagged that Anaheim could be motivated by what it stands to lose—three veteran defensemen—which could push them to seek a proven presence via trade. And for Parayko, Clark noted that the Ducks being a playoff team could pique his interest.
For Parayko, though, the immediate reality was less about speculation and more about the fact that he stayed put. He remained in St. Louis and finished the rest of the season with the Blues after the failed effort to send him to Buffalo.
On the ice, his numbers offer an argument for why he’s still valuable despite the stalled negotiations. Parayko finished with nine goals and 33 overall points. His plus/minus was +28, and he blocked 172 shots. Clark’s case for Anaheim leaned on that profile: he would give the Ducks an experienced top-pairing. right-handed option who can play heavy minutes.
Clark also didn’t pretend the price would be cheap. He wrote that Parayko would come at a cost both in terms of capital and salary. Still. he argued Parayko would be a strong starting point as the Ducks look to address a defense that gave up too many high-danger scoring chances during the regular season.
The NHL offseason has barely begun, and trades have already started to move. If the Blues decide to push Parayko out after the Sabres attempt collapsed. Anaheim could be one of the most plausible destinations this offseason—because this time. the fit isn’t only about the player. It’s about whether both sides think the timing is right. and whether Parayko finally gets the kind of landing spot he didn’t get in Buffalo.
NHL rumors St. Louis Blues Colton Parayko Buffalo Sabres Anaheim Ducks offseason trades defensemen cap hit
So he didn’t get traded to Buffalo and now Ducks are next? NHL trades are just vibes.
I don’t get why Anaheim would pay for him if they already have defenders. Plus/Minus +28 sounds made up because I never see those stats in real life lol.
Blues trying to “clear the cap” again right? Like this is always about cap space and not actual hockey. Also Parayko nixed it to Buffalo… so what makes him say yes to Anaheim? Timing or whatever ESPN says.
Wait didn’t Parayko already get traded like last week in that other post? I swear I saw this exact thing going to the Ducks but then the headline changed. If Anaheim really gave up too many chances, yeah sure get a “proven” defenseman, but trades never go how people think.