Report: Parayko drawing most trade interest among Blues D-men
The St. Louis Blues have already started selling off their pending unrestricted free agents, but they're apparently also open to the idea of trading players with term - particularly on the back end.
It's "very possible" St. Louis moves one of its top-four defensemen - Colton Parayko, Torey Krug, Justin Faulk, or Nick Leddy, reports TSN's Darren Dreger. Dreger added that Parayko has drawn the most interest of the quartet.
A deal would be complicated, though, as all four players have full no-trade clauses. Parayko, Krug, and Faulk all carry $6.5-million cap hits; Parayko is under contract through 2030, while Krug and Faulk are signed through 2027. Leddy inked a four-year deal worth $4 million annually this past offseason.
Parayko, 29, shoots right and stands at 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds. He's posted only 17 points in 50 games this season, but his defensive metrics have been strong.
The Blues, who entered Thursday 11th in the Western Conference, already dealt pending UFA Vladimir Tarasenko to the New York Rangers. They're also widely expected to move on from other veterans on expiring deals, such as captain Ryan O'Reilly and forwards Ivan Barbashev and Noel Acciari.