(July 20, 2017) – St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the club has signed defenseman Colton Parayko (puh-RAY-koh) to a five-year contract worth $27.5 million.

“We are pleased to have Colton as part of our group for the next five seasons,” said Armstrong. “He has made tremendous progress over the last two years and possesses all the tools to be a very good NHL defenseman.”

Parayko, 24, has appeared in two seasons with the Blues since being drafted by the club in the third round (86th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In 2016-17, the 6’6, 225-pound defenseman played in 81 regular season games, posting a career-high 35 points, including four goals and 31 assists. Parayko also dressed in 11 postseason games, ranking second among Blues defensemen with five points (two goals, three assists) and second among all Blues skaters with a +6 rating.

Overall, the St. Albert, Alberta, native has accumulated 68 points (13 goals, 55 assists) and 61 penalty minutes in 160 career regular season games, as well as 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 31 career postseason games.