The Buffalo Sabres are finalizing a deal to acquire shutdown defenseman Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues, TSN reported Wednesday.
The prospective trade requires Parayko's approval. The 32-year-old veteran, a career-long member of the Blues, possesses a no-trade clause.
Prospect defenseman Radim Mrtka, the No. 9 overall draft pick in 2025, would head to St. Louis in the swap along with a first-round pick, according to TSN.
Parayko, a 6-foot-6 hulking presence, has one goal and 14 points over 58
games in 22:24 of average ice time. He ranks third in the league with 141 blocked shots.
He is signed through the 2029-30 season at an annual cap hit of $6.5 million.
A 2012 third-round draft pick and 2019 Stanley Cup champion, Parayko has tallied 309 career points (78 goals, 231 assists) in 781 games.
The St. Albert, Alberta, product helped Canada earn the silver medal at the recent Winter Olympics and win last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.
The Sabres are a surprise buyer ahead of Friday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. They are on track to end a record 14-year playoff appearance drought as the second-place team in the Atlantic Division.
Winners of four consecutive games, the Sabres' hot streak has persisted for months. They are 25-5-2 since Dec. 9.
Trending the other way, the Blues entered Wednesday with the NHL's second-fewest points (53) and second-worst goal differential (minus-52) after reaching the 2025 postseason.
--Field Level Media
