NHL trade deadline winners and losers: Sabres rebuffed by Parayko, McDavid gets no help
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 NHL trade deadline was unusually quiet compared to previous years, with few major player moves, leaving many trade boards largely unchanged.
- St. Louis citizens emerged as winners as key player Colton Parayko chose to stay, valuing life in St. Louis, while the Blues team faces a challenging rebuild after failing to trade key players like Robert Thomas.
- Buffalo Sabres, despite being strong Stanley Cup contenders, failed to secure impactful deadline acquisitions, notably missing out on Parayko, highlighting the challenges even successful teams face in trades.
- Player autonomy was a clear winner, exemplified by Parayko's decision to use his no-movement clause to avoid a trade, underscoring the growing respect for
