The Athletic Hockey Show: What’s the Holdup on the Colton Parayko Trade? (with Chris Johnston)

Date: March 5, 2026
Hosts: Haley Salvian & Sean Gentille
Guest: Chris Johnston (CJ), NHL Insider

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the 2026 NHL trade deadline, with a special focus on the anticipated but delayed Colton Parayko trade from the St. Louis Blues to the Buffalo Sabres. NHL insider Chris Johnston joins to break down what’s holding up that deal, analyze key trades already completed, and preview what’s to come before the Friday deadline. The hosts also discuss moves by the Oilers, Utah Mammoth, Maple Leafs, and the shifting landscapes for teams like Detroit, Buffalo, and Florida.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Trade Deadline Moves So Far

(03:58–10:36)

• MacKenzie Weegar to Utah Mammoth

  • Weegar waives NTC for trade from Calgary; Utah receives him (has 4 years left on contract).
  • Calgary gets defenseman Olli Maatta, three 2026 second-round picks, and a prospect.
  • Haley Salvian: "Uyghur is a right shot D. Those don’t come cheap this time of year...I like it for both sides." (06:43)

• Edmonton Oilers Moves

  • Acquire Connor Murphy for a second-rounder from Chicago.
  • Make a complicated deal for Jason Dickinson, costing a first-round pick and Andrew Mangiapane (with retention by Blackhawks).
  • Sean Gentille: "It's brutal asset management by Stan Bowman... The Oilers are a train wreck right now." (08:07)
  • Both hosts agree Oilers’ moves are not transformational; team’s fundamental flaws (defense, goaltending) remain.

2. Colton Parayko Trade Saga: What’s the Holdup?

(11:49–17:49, CJ joins at 14:10)

• Status of Parayko-to-Buffalo Deal

  • Trade reported 12 hours prior but not yet finalized.
  • Hold-up is Parayko’s no-trade clause; he’s taking time to decide.
  • Chris Johnston: "The holdup in this case is pretty simple. He's got a no-trade clause... I was told early Thursday to expect that this will go through." (14:58)
  • Indicates paperwork/logistics (Blues were on West Coast) and Parayko’s personal processing are involved.

• On “Leaked” Trade Discussions

  • Occasional premature leaking due to trade deadline time crunch and media competition.
  • Similar recent delays with players like Tyler Myers.

3. Blues’ Potential Next Moves & Robert Thomas Watch

(17:49–21:41)

• Robert Thomas Also a Trade Target

  • Sabres were in on him; Utah Mammoth are actively pursuing.
  • Any trade requires Thomas waiving his no-trade clause—decision may also drag out.
  • CJ: "If a Thomas deal is going to happen, you’re looking at probably three significant assets... Utah should be viewed as most likely if something happens." (18:15)

• Blues’ Organizational Direction

  • Front office transition after deadline—Doug Armstrong up to President, Alex Steen to GM.
  • Actively clearing the decks; parallels to Nashville’s pre-GM handover trades.

4. Other Trade Deadline Storylines

Utah Mammoth and Buffalo Sabres: Aggressive Buyers

• Utah: Still holds first-rounders and top prospects after Weegar deal—primed for a blockbuster.
• Buffalo: Big “window opening” attitude—want multi-year solutions, not just rentals.
  • CJ: "There’s a bigger picture in Buffalo... hoping this is the opening of a window." (21:41)

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Approach

(23:54–27:16)

• Scratched players (Ekman-Larsson, Lawton, McMahon) were just a precaution; no deals imminent yet.
• CJ: "The Leafs have been on the wrong end of some beatings... What are you trying to accomplish at this deadline? They’re hoping to get future assets." (24:57)
• Few offers coming in; team could move pending UFAs if extensions aren’t signed.

Detroit Red Wings: Quiet, But Poised to Strike

(27:16–29:11)

• Targeting right-side defensemen, in on several centers.
• CJ: "I’d be stunned if [Steve Yzerman] was quiet at this deadline... The Eastern Conference could be wide open." (29:11)

Florida Panthers: Considering Trading Bobrovsky?!

(29:11–32:10)

• Contract extension talks stalled—could move future Hall-of-Famer if the right offer hits.
• CJ: "There’s nothing even close in terms of an extension... Florida is a well-operated team... looking to see if anything makes sense in moving him." (29:29)

Oilers' Last Moves—Is That It?

• Spent a lot of assets and cap space to shore up forward and defense depth.
• Might still try to upgrade forwards but little major left to do.
• CJ: "I think they'll look to make another move to help that forward group if they can—but they’re getting low on cap space and assets." (33:34)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Groundhog Day in Edmonton
  Sean: "It's Groundhog Day. You have poor secondary scoring, another bad bottom-six, bad defense... It's the same problems with different faces." (09:44)

• On Utah Mammoth’s Smart Asset Management
  CJ: "They keep their powder dry—they don’t move a first-round pick for Weegar, don’t move any of their top prospects..." (21:09)

• On Leak-First, Approve-Later Deals
  Haley: "Three trades now... where there is a trade to announce but the player hasn't agreed to the trade yet. It’s wild this year." (46:08)

• CJ’s Deadline Big-Board Sleeper
  Simon Nemec (New Jersey), not yet listed; could be a big-name "hockey trade" if the Devils pursue a top forward. (34:56)

Important Timestamps

• Trade Deadline Context & Early Moves - 02:18-10:36
• Colton Parayko Trade Discussion/Delay - 11:49-17:49; CJ joins at 14:10
• Robert Thomas Rumors & Overall Blues Situation - 17:49-21:41
• Utah, Buffalo, Toronto, Detroit, Florida, Oilers Rundown - 21:09-34:17
• Trade-Leak Trend & Implications - 46:08-47:51
• CJ’s Surprise Trade Board Pick (Simon Nemec) - 34:56
• Deadline Wrap-up & What to Watch Next - 47:51-end

Final Thoughts & What to Watch

• The Colton Parayko-to-Buffalo trade is all down to the player’s decision—should finalize soon unless Parayko chooses to stay.
• Several other big trades, especially involving Robert Thomas and possibly Simon Nemec, could yet shake up the market, but expect "player agreement pending" headlines.
• The Leafs, Oilers, Wings, and Panthers are all wild cards, with fans anxiously awaiting whether their GMs will pull off major moves.
• As CJ and the hosts emphasize, the prevalence of no-trade and no-move clauses is creating new deadline drama for both insiders and front offices: “Players need time to digest...it’s not as simple as just moving the chess pieces.” (48:30)

Listener Takeaway

Whether you root for a buying, selling, or standing-pat team, this deadline promises both frustration and fireworks—especially as player consent and last-minute negotiation drama become the new norm. Watch for late-breaking approvals, surprise stars on the move, and teams trying to guarantee their windows don't slam shut.