The Buffalo Sabres were rejected by St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko on Thursday. There was a reported deal in place between the two teams that included Parayko being moved to Buffalo.
However, after taking some time to think about it, the right-shot D-man decided that Buffalo wasn’t the destination for him. Parayko was allowed to make that decision with the no-trade clause in his contract.
With Parayko officially out of the picture, Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen will have to pivot and search for another defenseman. Luckily, Parayko isn’t the last available defenseman who plays a similar physical, defensive style.
Justin Faulk and Dougie Hamilton are two right-handed blueliners, but are more offense-minded. For a Parayko substitute, here’s what is on the table.
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Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
Rasmus Ristolainen is likely the best remaining defenseman with a style similar to Parayko’s. The 6-foot-4 Ristolainen has a long reach, big body, and isn’t afraid to play a physical brand of hockey.
Ristolainen, 31, was actually a draft pick of the Sabres in 2013 when he was selected eighth overall. He went on to play eight seasons for Buffalo before being traded to Philadelphia in July 2021.
The Finnish defenseman carries a $5.1-million cap hit for this season and the next. With that, the Sabres won’t have to worry about him rejecting a trade since he has no trade protection.
Zach Whitecloud, Calgary Flames
Zach Whitecloud has already been traded this season. On Jan. 18, Whitecloud was traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Calgary Flames as part of the Rasmus Andersson deal.
After parts of eight seasons with the Golden Knights, he’s been a great fit for the Flames. The 29-year-old blueliner has recorded four assists in 12 games, while averaging a career high 23:08 of ice time since joining Calgary.
Like Parayko, Whitecloud is a Stanley Cup champion who puts defense first. If the Sabres pursue Whitecloud, and the Flames are willing to flip him, he’ll bring over a $2.75-million cap hit for the next two years.
Sergei Belski – Imagn Images
Luke Schenn, Winnipeg Jets
Though he is 36 years old and has had limited minutes with the Winnipeg Jets this season, Luke Schenn has a similar build to Parayko at a cheap cost. He is a pending UFA with a $2.75 million salary.
Schenn has featured in 47 contests, recording a goal and seven points while averaging 13:44 of ice time per game. He also has the seventh most hits among all NHL defensemen with 139.
He may not have the same role Parayko would have had on the Sabres, but Schenn can bring the experience that not many others in the league can carry. That includes 1,118 regular-season outings, as well as 58 playoff appearances and two Stanley Cups.
