Breaking: Colton Parayko Makes His Decision on Buffalo Deal

St. Louis Blues defenceman Colton Parayko looks contemplative

No-trade and no-movement clauses have become more and more common in the NHL. And herein lies the reason that players want them. St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko was tentatively traded to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night, but he slept on it, and on Thursday confirmed that he would NOT be waiving his no-trade. The deal is nullified, and Parayko is staying put in St. Louis—for now.

Confirming: #stlblues defenseman Colton Parayko has decided to not waive his no-trade clause to accept a trade to Buffalo.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 5, 2026

It's a tough break for the Sabres, who have been one of the league's hottest teams for a few months now, and were looking to make a big splash to double down on their push for a big playoff run. This will be their first time back in the postseason in 15 years.

Other teams will now get a crack at landing Parayko, but maybe this time, the Blues ought to check with him first before trying to finalize a trade (or at least before putting it 'out there').

I'm told #stlblues Colton Parayko is open to a trade to a different destination, and of course prefers to stay in St. Louis.

But not Buffalo - an outcome not all that different than Tyler Myers with Detroit.

Now, will another team pay the same price Buffalo put on the table?
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 5, 2026

Insider Frank Seravalli says that Parayko is potentially open to a trade to a different destination. Maybe it needs to have palm trees? Where's Kevyn Adams when you need him?

Buffalo now will turn its attention elsewhere in a bid to land an impact right-D. Other names still on the market include Rasmus Ristolainen, and, if they dare to talk with the Blues again, Justin Faulk.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Radim Mrtka, the burly blueliner who was the Sabres' first-round pick in last year's draft and was going to be heading to St. Louis in the deal, remains with Buffalo. He now must come to terms with the fact that his drafting team tried to trade him less than a year after selecting him. Ouch.