That's good value for both teams, but it leaves a hole in our defense for a couple years and most of this Blues team is in their prime right now. No motive for STL, especially considering the summer and camp/preseason that Kyrou has had. Not the time to think about trading him.

I agree that it does hurt our defense this year, but man, this is great value coming back especially if Liljegren has a good year in the AHL. I love the deal, but torn because i don't like giving up Parayko.

agreed, Blues would need another trade or like a Zaitsev coming back to replace the 2dn line RHD position. Plus they couldnt afford to sign Nylander anyways without someone like Gunnarson coming back.

Hard no on this one.

For me this is all about age and cap management.

Kyrou is no where near Nylander's level.

Liljegren is no where near Parayko's level.......yet. But he could be.

For me, its a short sighted move and one that frankly St Louis should have no interest in.

They are an older team that is all in to win, their defence isn't what it used to be so taking 1 of their 2 best defencemen out of their lineup for futures just doesn't make sense.

From Toronto's perspective, I think they are shortening their window by making themselves a few years older.

Would love to move Parayko because of how highly he is touted around the league. Would get a great return for him and probably get more than he is worth. But again need to have someone able to fill the 2nd line RHD spot to make it worth while.

As much as I would love to see Nylander as a Blue, Colton Parayko is just entering his prime and has already gelled really nicely with everyone on the roster. Although, I do love the value that both teams see in this trade. I could see something happening very similar to this.

Parayko is on a good contract, and adds some toughness

It's hard to say, the Leafs are adrift until they have a plan to get past signing up their core. We might be heading for a soft-reset with a couple years just adding prospects, waiting for D to come up and Marleau + Horton to roll off the books

Parayko adds 0 toughness lol but glad to know other around the league do not know that.

Parayko actually has a couple years before he really enters his prime (about age 28 -32 for defensemen). I wish the Blues would stop playing him with Dunn. Those two seem to clash more than help each other. Liljegren has a great talent set.

In preseason and last night he played with an edge the entire time. Actually getting into people's face was nice to see from a 6'6 235 pound defenseman.

Seems to be something that was pointed out to him and something that he is adding to his game this year... we'll see. His skating and stick-work are already top-notch in terms of disrupting entries, but if he can add a little more fear in the minds of forwards crossing the blue line, it will help his game a ton.

For sure, but I do not think it is something that can be taught or implemented into your game. You either have that mean bone or you dont IMO. But we shall see, I love Parayko and know he is a solid dman but I just don't see him getting much better and as good as a lot of people think he will be. Skates well and has good positioning but as far as physicality and decisions with the puck he struggles.

Hope its real, like I said in another post I do not think you can just decide to be a meaner player, you either are or you arent.

I don't follow your logic, If you are arguing that Liljegren could be Parayko, why is it not valid to argue that Kyrou could be a nylander? Both look like really good young guys who have done nothing yet. Also I would argue that Parayko holds more value than Nylander, A good D holds more value than a good winger. Add in that his contract is way better value than what nylander is supposedly asking.

Pretty sure Russ Tyler taught Kenny Wu how to add that element to his game...

I don't know anything about Kyrou. All I can say as a leaf fan who watches Marlies games and every leaf game, is that I wouldn't do Nylander for parayko straight up. And liljegren has massive upside so unless the Kyrou kid is likely a top line player it's a hard no unless remove liljegren from the deal.

Kyrou is top notch top-6 prospect and would fit on Matthews wing like puzzle so its worthy.

Good to know we're all homers here haha. Because I wouldn't do Nylander for Parayko straight up, but mostly becuase it doesn't suit our needs. And Kyrou was the OHL MVP last year, playing in our top six to start the season. He's looking really good.

Touche

hes a lesser Marner. Similar size and style just needs to translate to NHL.

Nylander is 22 and has 2 full seasons of NHL experience under his belt scoring back to back 61 point seasons. In comparison, Kyrou is 20 years old and hasn't made the lineup yet. Could Kyrou become a 61 point player? Sure. Nylander however is already that and his best hockey is still in front of him. He's a star, not a 2nd round pick prospect.

Parayko is a very good defenceman, but he is 25 the middle of his prime. He still has a lot of hockey ahead of him but he's not likely to develop much more than he already has. Liljegren is an unknown but he's 19, an incredible skater and has a very high ceiling.

That alone is enough to make me not really want this trade.

From St Louis's perspective, their defence isn't as amazing as it used to be. Peitrangelo is a Norris calibre defenceman, no doubt. Parayko could be a top pairing guy on a lot of teams, no doubt. But after that, they aren't exactly loaded with high end defenceman. Their forwards are on the older side and their "window" of contention isn't exactly big. (I am not sold on them being anything more than a bubble team) so trading their 2nd best defenseman for a guy who won't likely be ready for a full season or two, seems like a terrible idea.

He's not close to as good as Nylander though and Liljegren's ceiling is massive and he's only 19. The trade makes TO older and shortens their window.

You can't get meaner, but you can get harder to play against which is what he is doing.

Nylander is 22, Liljegren 19 opposite to Kyrou 20 and Parayko 25.. its a difference but if its between 3yr gap i dont think its a problem. Also Defenders peak later than forwards.

Only Toronto's defense gets older. Offense stays young. Defensemen don't hit their prime until age 28-32 so Parayko will grow even more. As a Blues fan i don't do it because they are in a win now mode, but it's a pretty fair deal for both teams. Besides, Nylander has put up 61 points playing with Matthews and company. Can he replicate it with anyone else? Probably, but who knows. Kyrou can just as easily put 60 up with Matthews.