Breaking: Massive News As Trade Pitch Sees Red Wings Acquiring Star $52 Million Defenseman

The Detroit Red Wings have been active in free agency, and one trade proposal could significantly enhance their defense.

Using the PuckGM tool from PuckPedia, a user suggested a trade that would bring Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues to Detroit.

Red Wings acquire:

• Colton Parayko

Blues acquire:

• Axel Sandin-Pellikka
• Jeff Petry
• 2025 third-round pick

This proposed trade would allow the Red Wings to acquire top defenseman Parayko in exchange for a promising prospect, an NHL defenseman, and a draft pick.

Parayko is entering the third year of his eight-year, $ 52 million contract. He would serve as a second-pairing right-shot defenseman alongside Moritz Seider. Last season, he played all 82 games, scoring 10 goals and adding 18 assists for a total of 26 points. Throughout his NHL career, Parayko has appeared in 659 games, accumulating 61 goals and 198 assists for 259 points.

In return, Detroit would give up defenseman Sandin-Pellikka, a top prospect selected 17th overall in the 2023 NHL draft, who spent last season in Sweden and could be in contention for NHL minutes in the 2024-25 season.

Petry would fill the gap left by Parayko on the Blues’ defense and help balance salaries, entering the final year of his four-year, $ 25 million deal. Last season, he played in 73 games, with 3 goals and 21 assists for 24 points.

Analyst Believes Blues Will Engage in Trad Talks for Parayko

Colton Parayko has been mentioned in trade rumors for the past two seasons, but he hasn’t been traded yet.

NHL analyst Kyle Graden from BleedinBlue.com anticipates that the Blues will enter trade discussions regarding Parayko this season.

“By the time his contract ends in 2029-2030, Colton will be 36, making it unlikely he remains with the Blues unless they ignore the current narrative. Doug Armstrong has successfully built a new, younger defensive lineup through drafts and trades, which could make long-standing Blue Parayko more expendable,” Graden noted.

“Whether he gets traded will probably depend on how the standings look in February and March, but one thing is certain: the asking price will be substantial,” Graden added.

Parayko has played his entire NHL career with the Blues, making his debut in the 2015-16 season after being selected 86th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft by St. Louis.

Red Wings Happy With Offseason Moves

The Detroit Red Wings entered the offseason aiming to add players to support their young core.

In free agency, their key acquisitions were signing Vladimir Tarasenko and goalie Cam Talbot. While they didn’t land any of the top available players, general manager Steve Yzerman expressed satisfaction with their efforts.

“We had specific goals at the start of free agency that we aimed to achieve,” Yzerman stated on July 4. “We adjusted our strategy and managed to bring in players to fill the gaps left by those we couldn’t retain, addressing some areas of concern.”

Following these moves, Yzerman is optimistic that his team can vie for a playoff spot in the 2024-25 NHL season.

“I believe we’re in the mix with teams that have a shot at the playoffs. If we can stay healthy, maintain solid goaltending, and get performances that exceed expectations, we might make it. But we could also miss by just a point in the final game,” he added. “That’s the narrow margin we’re dealing with. When I compare the current roster to last year’s, I see some differences. It could be a better fit in terms of player roles.”

Detroit will kick off its 2024-25 NHL season at home on October 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.