Allen: Young NHL players, such as Colton Parayko, arriving ready to go
St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong says the NHL trend of giving more opportunities to less-experienced players reflects a change in how youngsters play rather than how GMs think.
“I don’t think teams are more willing to use younger players,” Armstrong said. “I think younger players are getting ready quicker.”
The Blues have benefited from that with third-round pick Colton Parayko, 22. The former Alaska Fairbanks college player has earned a job on the Blues’ defense this season despite logging only 17 games in the American Hockey League last season.
This rookie class has received special attention because of name players such as Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres), Artemi Panarin (Chicago Blackhawks), Max Domi (Arizona Coyotes) and Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings).
But what also separates this class is its depth, particularly on defense where a handful of youngsters have become regulars.
Parayko is third among rookies with an average of 19 minutes, 17 seconds a game entering Wednesday. The Blues have another rookie defenseman, Joel Edmundson, playing 13:21 a game.
“They both expedited the process quicker than we thought,” Armstrong said. “They were both solid prospects, but some solid prospects make it and some don’t.”
Parayko is the NHL’s highest-scoring rookie defenseman with five goals and 13 points in 23 games. He scored twice in his third NHL game.
“He has a heavy shot, and he is able to get his shot through the first and second layers of traffic,” Armstrong said. “But we aren’t going to judge his success on a year-to-year basis based on goals. It’s going to be on the other parts of his game. What impresses me the most about him is his ability to use his size and reach to defend against bigger, stronger players. The offensive production is a bonus.”
What makes Parayko’s quick rise more impressive is he was passed over in his first year of draft eligibility in 2011, when he was playing for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
“I was just excited that I made Junior A league out of Midget AA,” he said. “I started talking to a few NHL teams in my first season, and that was a shock to me. It was surreal. At that point, I wasn’t anywhere near expecting to be drafted. I didn’t even know how the process worked.”
He was still growing in his first draft-eligible season and was 6-5 when the Blues claimed him 86th overall the following season. He then decided to play college hockey in Alaska.
“That was a real positive for him,” Armstrong said. “That allowed him the time to get better on and off the ice. One thing with him is that he is a tireless worker. Right from the day he was drafted, we saw that. We are less surprised that he is here now because of the work he has put in. But he is certainly a late bloomer.”
The college route gave Parayko extra time to develop. He played three seasons before turning pro.
“Our team was really close, mostly because we were in Alaska,” Parayko said. “We did everything together. We went to class together. We studied together.”
Then there were the road trips, dictating that teammates would be together at least eight hours on a plane. Sometimes they would be on the road together for a week.
“It’s definitely a different dynamic than you might find at other schools,” Parayko said “It was something I really enjoyed.”
In retrospect, Parayko thinks it helped him to play against the older college competition.
“The time management that I learned there really helped me out,” Parayko said.
Armstrong thinks today’s athletes are more focused than athletes of yesterday, primarily because intense training starts at a younger age.
“I don’t know if it is good or bad, but it’s reality,” Armstrong said. “Some kids have strength goals, skill coaches and nutritionist at 12 or 13. … I guess what I’m saying is that guys are focused on what they need to do at a much younger age.”
Parayko has primarily played with Carl Gunnarsson. Coach Ken Hitchcock seems to have trust in Parayko. He has played him more than 20 minutes a game when the team had injuries. He plays with confidence and isn’t tentative.
“As soon as I got to camp this season, the coaches told defensemen they wanted them to jump into the play,” Parayko said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do, and it has worked.”
He knows his best attribute is he’s 6-5, 225 pounds and mobile.
“I have to make sure I use my size to my advantage,” Parayko said. “I’m a big frame. I take up a lot of ice.”
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