St. Louis Blues defenseman explains why he signed mammoth extension

The towering Blues defenseman had no plans to go anywhere.

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HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
St. Louis Blues defenseman explains why he signed mammoth extension
In The Slot

He had no plans to go anywhere, and the St. Louis Blues sure made it worth his while to stay put. 

Defenseman Colton Parayko agreed to a monster eight-year contract extension earlier this afternoon, keeping him wearing the Blue Note through the 2029-30 NHL Season. The hulking blue liner played a key role in bringing St. Louis their first ever Stanley Cup championship in 2019, and he's made an impact immediately from the get-go. In fact, he's one of only 10 defensemen in the NHL to have tallied at least 170 points combined with a plus-50 plus/minus rating.

He certainly would have been a coveted asset on the free-agent market next summer, as the upcoming campaign is the final season of the five-year deal that he agreed to prior to the 2017-18 season. But for Parayko, it came down to a personal decision in order to remain in the only NHL city that he's called home - and of course, wanting to once again raise the Stanley Cup in the shadow of the Gateway Arch as he did before was an intriguing draw.

"I can't wait to wear the Blue Note for another nine years," Parayko told stlouisblues.com shortly after the deal was made official "St. Louis has been my home now for six seasons, and this is where I want to be. All the relationships I've gained, the teammates I've had, and the organization have all had a big impact on me. Winning here in 2019 was special, and I want the chance to stay here and do that again." 

Following the departure of fellow defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, Parayko has become the Blues most recognizable and highest profile player at the position. And according to GM Doug Armstrong, he's solidified himself as the "alpha male" on the blue line. 

“I’ve talked to Colton and, in my view, it’s his team on the back end right now,” Armstrong explained last year. “He’s the alpha male. He’s been here the longest, he’s got the game to be the alpha male, and he wants the challenge.”

In 418 career games, the St. Albert, Alberta native has scored 41 goals and 130 assists to go along with a plus-54 rating.


Source: NHL.com