NHL Injury News: Significant News For Blues & Colton Parayko

The devastating news for the St. Louis Blues came down about two weeks ago, that top defenseman Colton Parayko would be out for six weeks, which would essentially be the rest of the regular season. A significant development on Wednesday has been revealed, as head coach Jim Montgomery told the media that he now hopes that Parayko can return before the season is out:

Do I think he’s going to be six weeks? I do not think he’s going to be six weeks. That’s just me because that’s my belief in him and our athletic training staff and our doctors. Outside of that, I don’t know how much sooner than six weeks.

The 31-year-old top-line D-man leads the team with 23:51 minutes of ice time per night, while posting a career-high 15 goals along with 20 assists for 35 points in 64 games. He's also added 140 blocked shots and has 90 hits with his 6'6", 228-pound frame.

The Blues have experienced a late-season turnaround that has them tied in points for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, with 75 points, and 13 games to play. The Vancouver Cancuks, also at 75 points, have a game in hand, while the Calgary Flames, two points behind St. Louis, have two games in hand. The Blues are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

Naturally, the Blues' ability to stay in the playoff hunt over the next few weeks will dictate whether they push Parayko to return, as his presence would be a huge boon in their push to make the postseason. If they falter, they might just decide to shut him down after all.

In their next eight games, the Blues face only one team with more points than them, so the schedule could work in their favor.

Parayko has five more seasons to run on his eight-year deal with a $6.5 million cap hit.