Reports: Sabres & Blues Still Talking Trade—Now For Defenseman

We know that the Buffalo Sabres were knee-deep in Robert Thomas discussions with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. That much has been confirmed. As has the fact that the idea of the Sabres landing Thomas has now been put to bed. Not happening.

However, that doesn't mean that the Sabres and Blues are done talking. Several reports suggest that Buffalo is still eyeing a right-shot defenseman from St. Louis, and that just could be Colton Parayko.

As others have reported, keep an eye on Buffalo and a Blues defenseman, potentially Parayko. #stlblues https://t.co/hLJYFLKwww
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 4, 2026

Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford wrote today, "Keep an eye on Buffalo and a Blues defenseman, potentially Parayko."

Elliotte Friedman went even further in explaining what went down between the two teams on the Fan Hockey Show on Wednesday about the Thomas talks. "I think they went really far down the path... The Sabres were trying to get both Thomas and Colton Parayko."

He added that he felt that it might have been Owen Power that would have to go back in a deal that included Parakyo, but he "got push back" on that. Other reports say that the Sabres have no intention of including Bowen Byram either.

Is Colton Parayko another Blues' target for Sabres?

Parayko, 32, has four more years to run on his contract at a $6.5M AAV. The big, 6'6" d-man is already up to 141 blocked shots this season in 58 games.

So the two sides will continue to discuss, and Buffalo likely has other irons in the fire on right-side defensemen as well.

The Sabres really don't want to subtract any big pieces and break up the good thing they've got going. The team currently is riding another winning streak, this one at four games and counting, and they sit just two points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo is 15-5-2 in the past two months, the 4th best record in the NHL over that time.

The Sabres will be snapping a 14-year playoff drought this season, but they have goals of a big playoff run, and are looking at adding one more impact player without disrupting the core.