Report: Blues, Parayko 1 year, $1.35M apart in contract negotiations

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Colton Parayko reportedly have some ground to make up if they want to come to terms on a contract before an arbitration hearing slated for July 20.

Parayko is a restricted free agent and is seeking a one-year deal for $4.85 million, while the team is looking to put pen to paper on a two-year contract that would pay him $3.4 million and $3.6 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The 24-year-old is coming off a two-year, $1.85-million deal, but in his first two seasons in the league he has quickly become one of the Blues' most dependable defenders.

Parayko has posted 33 and 35 points respectively - good enough for third in team scoring among Blues defensemen during that time - while averaging the fourth-most ice time. He also tallied the second-most blocked shots and the third-most takeaways.