Not a huge surprise today -- UAF junior Colton Parayko, the reigning WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and a third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, signed with the Blues following his junior year.
The 6-foot-5, 224-pounder signed a two-year entry-level deal, according to the Blues.
Sounds about right -- he really didn't have a whole lot more to get out of college hockey on an individual basis. And while the Nanooks knew Parayko, 21, turning pro was a definite possibility, would have been nice to have that dude around as a senior.
In any event, Parayko will report to Chicago of the American Hockey League.
Parayko this season put up 6-17--23 totals and a +4 rating in 34 minutes. In 104 career games, he went 17-49--66.
Couple times I talked to him, seemed like a really good kid. And he's got a pro body. He's still listed as 195 pounds on his hockeydb.com bio, but he's put on a lot of functional muscle in his three seasons up north.