No rumors this time kids, just facts. Zach Parise has signed a 13 year deal worth $98 million dollars with the Minnesota Wild. The Wild also broke the bank to sign free agent defenseman Ryan Suter as well.
Both players have cited it being important to be close to family and friends; Parise is from Minnesota and Suter is just an hour east in Madison Wisconsin. That's great. We are happy both will be able to get rich and play in front of family and friends for a long time. But Ryan and Zach, do NOT tell us you signed in Minnesota to win a Stanley Cup. YOU. DID. NOT. No, you told us you didn't want to play under the white hot spotlight of Detroit or Pittsburgh or even Chicago, all cities that have recently won the cup. You don't want the pressure or the hassle of winning the cup? You've made the right choice. Enjoy obscurity and an occasional #7 or 8 seed in the playoffs and an early exit back to your family and friends.
Parise is an exceptional player, but it's not like the Devils are doomed a lengthy stay in the Atlantic Division cellar without him. Maybe Alexander Semin would be a good guy to make a run at?
ReplyDeleteI've heard bad things about Semin as a locker room teammate. Pierre McGuire on TSN on July 1st said he was a coach killer. I dunno. I know he can often play more motivated than he does.
ReplyDeleteHey, Philly hasn't improved and their goaltending situation is horrid. That won't improve so as for the cellar? We'll see.
Also the Penguins netminding bears watching. Fleury sure ended last year on a terrible streak.
Another thought would be trying to effect a trade for Bobby Ryan of Anaheim. Not sure whom the Devils would have to send to Anaheim in return but he's a proven scorer and after Parise and Suter HAD to be near home, Ryan is from Collingswood NJ, maybe his homefires burn.
ReplyDeleteI'd try to get him before I overpaid for Rick Nash