As the OP and a Blues fan I would hate to see Parayko go. People complain about almost any trade. The 2 1sts plus Liljegren and Johnsson is good value for 2 guaranteed years of Parayko. Is there possibly a better deal out there? Maybe? Was there a better deal Buffalo could have gotten for ROR? Who knows?

Every intelligent GM repeats the mantra of "you trade from your strength". That's what this deal accomplishes. Would I rather see Faulk traded? Yes. Is trading Faulk more difficult? Yes.

The Blues pipeline on prospects is weak. Pronman just ranked the Blues 20th overall with prospects but he's still counting Thomas in that ranking. This isn't a rebuilding move. The deal includes signing Pietrangelo and maintaining a solid D as well as helping restock the prospect line.

This is one of 100 different ways the Blues could go so nobody should be arguing too much one way or the other.