Parayko Blocks Sabres Trade with No-Trade Clause

St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko on Thursday invoked his no-trade clause to block a proposed trade to the Buffalo Sabres, halting what could have been a significant deal ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

The 32-year-old Parayko, who has spent his entire 11-year NHL career with the Blues, decided against waiving the clause after reports surfaced Wednesday of an agreement in principle between the teams. The package heading to St. Louis would have included 18-year-old prospect defenseman Radim Mrtka, selected ninth overall by Buffalo in the 2025 NHL Draft, along with a first-round pick. Parayko's contract includes a 15-team no-trade list that encompassed the Sabres, giving him final say on any potential move.

Parayko is in the fourth year of an eight-year, $52 million extension signed in 2021, which carries an annual cap hit of $6.5 million and runs through the 2029-30 season. This season, the 6-foot-6 native of St. Albert, Alberta, has appeared in 58 games, recording one goal and 14 points while averaging 22 minutes and 24 seconds of ice time per game. He ranks third in the league with 141 blocked shots, underscoring his role as a shutdown defender. Over his career,...