Sabres Land Colton Parayko: Robert Thomas Plan Fails, Buffalo Goes Big on Defense
The Buffalo Sabres just made the biggest defensive trade of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. After Robert Thomas talks collapsed Wednesday, GM Kevyn Adams pivoted fast — and now Colton Parayko is heading to Buffalo pending player approval. Here is the complete breakdown of the Parayko trade.
Colton Parayko Trade Details: Mrtka and a First to St. Louis
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported the Buffalo Sabres are finalizing a deal with the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Colton Parayko, with Radim Mrtka and a first-round pick going back to St. Louis.
The framework of the trade is reportedly complete — but Parayko has not yet signed off on it. Parayko holds a full no-trade clause and must waive it to make the deal official. The belief across the league is that the deal will get done.
The trade breakdown as reported:
| To Buffalo | To St. Louis |
|---|---|
| Colton Parayko (RD) | Radim Mrtka (D, 18) |
| — | 2026 First-Round Pick |
Who Is Colton Parayko?
Parayko, 32, is a native of St. Albert, Alberta, in his 11th NHL season and the fourth year of an eight-year, $52 million contract. He has appeared in 58 games this season, averaging 22 minutes and 24 seconds of ice time per night with one goal and 14 assists.
At 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, Parayko is a Stanley Cup champion who immediately stabilizes the Sabres' top four. Buffalo has been desperate for a veteran defensive anchor to insulate young puck-movers like Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Parayko brings elite penalty-killing ability, massive reach, and exactly the playoff pedigree this young Buffalo roster craves.
Parayko played a huge role during St. Louis's Stanley Cup championship run in 2019, putting up two goals and 10 assists in 26 postseason games while averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per night.
Who Is Radim Mrtka? The Prospect Buffalo Is Giving Up
Buffalo selected Mrtka with their first-round pick at ninth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft — and he is widely considered to have been a steal at that spot.
Mrtka, 18, is a 6-foot-6 Czech defenseman who has played 35 games with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds this season, registering a goal and 28 assists for 29 points. He has also appeared in four AHL games for the Rochester Americans. He is described as a big-bodied, puck-moving defenseman capable of logging significant minutes at the NHL level.
For St. Louis, getting Mrtka and a first-round pick for a 32-year-old defenseman is a great return as the Blues accelerate their rebuild.
Colton Parayko Contract: Four Years Remaining at $6.5M
Parayko is signed through the 2029-30 season at an affordable $6.5 million salary — meaning this is not just a deadline rental. The Sabres are getting a legitimate top-pairing defender locked in for four more seasons at a number that fits comfortably in their cap structure.
What This Means for the Buffalo Sabres
Parayko joins a stout blueline featuring Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, and Bowen Byram. With Parayko there to help, the burden eases significantly on all four of those players down the playoff stretch.
The Sabres are seeking to end their 14-year playoff drought — the longest active drought in the NHL — and Parayko is exactly the veteran playoff-tested presence that transforms a young, talented team into a legitimate contender. Buffalo is on the verge of something special.
The NHL Trade Deadline hits Friday at 3:00 PM ET. Parayko approval expected imminently.
