And Pietrangelo agrees.
"I think he's already an elite player, but I think with more opportunity and knowing he's the guy on the back end, he's going to be the guy, the leader of the back end," said Pietrangelo, who signed a seven-year, $61.6 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 12. "I think he's going to thrive in that position."
The Blues have yet to say what role Parayko will play this season, but it's likely the 27-year-old will step into the one previously filled by Pietrangelo.
"I'm excited if that's how it goes and I'm looking forward to the challenge," Parayko said. "If it calls for different scenarios, more ice time, great. I'm looking forward to it."
Parayko, who is entering his sixth NHL season, averaged an NHL career-high 23:00 in ice time per game last season, second on the Blues behind Pietrangelo (24:11).
"Over the course of my five years, I've been privileged to play in a lot of different scenarios, and coaches have put a lot of trust in me, whether it be [on the] power play, penalty kill, even strength against other teams' top lines to play," Parayko said. "That's good that I got that opportunity and I got to play in those situations and be ready for them."