Blues sign Parayko to five-year extension

Defenseman Colton Parayko agreed to a five-year, $27.5-million contract extension with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

The 6-foot-6, 226-pound Parayko, was selected by the Blues in the third round of the 2012 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

He has evolved into a top-flight defenseman, joining the ranks of former Blues like Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis.

Parayko, 24, had been a restricted free agent, meaning the Blues would have had a chance to match any offer Parayko received from any other team.

Parayko, however, had filed for arbitration. Once the Blues accepted arbitration, Parayko was locked into returning to the team in the 2017-18 season.

The new contract was reached before Parayko’s arbitration case was heard Thursday. The deal has a $5.5 million annual average value.

Alex Pietrangelo is the only other defenseman on the Blues roster that is under contract for the upcoming season.

Parayko debuted with the Blues in 2015-16, with nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 79 games. He finished eighth in the Calder Trophy voting as the NHL’s top rookie.

Last season, Parayko had four goals and 31 assists for 35 points in 81 games. He ranked third on the team in ice time, behind Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester.

This story was originally published July 20, 2017 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Blues sign Parayko to five-year extension."