Blues’ Colton Parayko day-to-day with upper-body injury

The St. Louis Blues announced Saturday morning that defenseman Colton Parayko is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Parayko, 33, did not participate in practice with his teammates on Friday and won’t play for the Blues in their afternoon clash with the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Through 13 games with the Blues this season, Parayko has four assists and has averaged 20:49 of ice time.

As the Blues noted in their media release on Saturday, Parayko missed part of the first period in the Blues’ 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday. The 6’6″ right-shot defender ultimately logged 17:31 of ice time in the victory.

With Parayko unavailable for Saturday’s game, Theo Lindstein is expected to take his place in the lineup. The Blues recalled Lindstein from the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday; the 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) has one assist in four NHL games this season.

The Blues originally selected Parayko in the third round (No. 86 overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. The St. Albert, Alta. product has since blossomed into the NHL’s top defensive defenders, helping the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019 and subsequently being named to Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Parayko spent his first three post-draft seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks before turning pro with the Blues organization in 2015. He was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2015-16 after compiling his first of five 30-point seasons to date.

Through 813 NHL games over parts of 12 seasons with the Blues, Parayko has amassed 81 goals and 317 points. He’s added 11 goals and 38 points in 89 playoff contests.

With Lindstein in for Parayko, the Blues are scheduled to take on the Red Wings at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit at 12:00 p.m. Central.