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When he’s at his best, what is Parayko doing well?

“He’s not overthinking things, he’s using his feet and using his stick and his length,� Blues coach Craig Berube said.

“Using his feet really well, making good first passes,� said Nick Leddy, Parayko’s defensive partner.

“I think he’s been solid defensively, he’s been moving his feet, he’s been breaking out plays, he’s been attacking offensively and making plays there, too,� Blues forward Jordan Kyrou said. “I think he’s been awesome all around.�

Even Parayko joins the fun. When speaking to reporters after Saturday’s 2-1 shootout win over the Kraken, Parayko was asked about his offensive involvement in lugging the puck up the ice. He said it was “just get the feet moving and try to create anything.�

If Parayko’s game starts with his feet, his skates have started well in the opening two games of the season, as Parayko has been one of the team’s best players as the Blues have opened 1-0-1 against Dallas and Seattle. ºüÀêÊÓƵ hosts Arizona on Thursday night.

Parayko has been active in the defensive zone closing plays out, and noticeable in transition by exiting his own zone and entering the offensive zone with possession. He’s drawn a penalty and has been part of a Blues defense that has allowed just one goal at even-strength this season — in part, thanks to Jordan Binnington, too.

“Great skating, great aggressive(ness),� Berube said. “He’s using his stick really well. He’s on his toes. He’s getting loose pucks in our end and he’s out of the zone with them.�

Leddy: “When you look at it, fresh year (and) confidence is there, and I think he’s played really well the first few games.�

At 5 on 5, Parayko is the Blues’ most-used player (he would be the most-used player overall, but he is not on either power play unit). When he is on the ice, the Blues have allowed fewer shot attempts and shots on goal, and have generated more shot attempts and shots on goal, albeit with a small sample size of two games.

“Just a conscious effort to get in the play as much as possible,� Parayko said. “Just give the forwards another option. Just like we talked about earlier, they have done a really good job of coming back for us, and if I can be an extra outlet for them up the ice (that helps).�

Kyrou: “With his speed and his big body, it’s hard to contain him, right? So he can create a lot of room for a lot of us.�

The Blues need this version of Parayko to stick around.

Last season, Parayko was criticized for uneven play throughout the season. He turned pucks over. He wasn’t physical enough at the net-front. He was tentative, and that hesitation popped up throughout his game. The result was a career-low 27 points (in a full season) and 73 goals against with Parayko on the ice at 5 on 5.

Asked if the hesitation was apparent at all this season, Berube said “I haven’t seen it, no. He’s been really good.�

Parayko is entering the second season of his eight-year contract extension worth $6.5 million annually. He has a full no-trade clause until July 1, 2028, so the 30-year-old right-handed defenseman has control over his career trajectory for the foreseeable future.

Once thought of as the Blues’ next No. 1 defenseman following the departure of Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues seem to have adjusted their expectations for Parayko, and put him into the correct role. He’s the team’s top shutdown defenseman tasked with slowing stars rather than creating a ton in the offensive zone, despite his heavy slap shot.

“For Colton to have a successful year and a successful career, it’s going to be more in that Jay Bouwmeester-style of player where he uses his skating, defends well with his stick, kills plays down low, kills cycles, makes the initial first pass (out of the defensive zone),� Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said before the season began. “He’s going to play 20-plus minutes a night of hard minutes, probably not a lot of power play. So his job is to play against the other team’s best players.�

If Parayko can continue to play well, it might work wonders for a Blues defense that ranked among the worst in the NHL, and it would be one of the more important items on the ºüÀêÊÓƵ checklist if it intends to return to the playoffs.