July 4, 2012, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter sign 13-year contracts with the Minnesota Wild news story on Metro Newspaper in NYC
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Parise has tallied 194 goals in his
seven-year NHL career, all of them in a New Jersey Devils uniform.
Zach Parise is going home.
Parise, the pre-eminent free agent on the market, signed what is
believed to be a 13-year contract with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.
He will join Ryan Suter, who also signed a 13-year deal with the Wild.
Financial terms for both deals were not readily available although
ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, citing a source, reported the Parise and Suter
will each earn $98 million over the course of the deals.
“This is a great day in the history of the Minnesota Wild,” Wild general
manager Chuck Fletcher said in a conference call that both Parise and
Suter participated in. The Wild’s two newest stars will be formally
introduced to the Minnesota media Monday in a press conference at Xcel
Energy Center.
“We’re excited to add [Parise’s and Suter’s] skill, experience and
character to our roster,” Fletcher said. “[This is] great for our
franchise.” He added that “both played wanted to come back to Minnesota
and play for the Wild.”
Parise, who will turn 28 later this month, had spent his entire
seven-year career with the Devils. He recorded 194 goals and 410 points
in 502 regular season games with the Devils. His best statistical season
was 2008-09 when he set career highs in goals (45), assists (49) and
points (94). Last year, he captained the Devils the Stanley Cup final.
Parise, a native of Minneapolis, said that his decision came down to
living and playing at home. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello noted
that New Jersey’s offer “was competitive” to the one Parise signed with
the Wild.
“I told Lou I love playing in New Jersey,” Parise said. “It was very
hard to leave. He was very supportive. He couldn’t be nicer about it.
“[It] came down to New Jersey and Minnesota,” Parise said. “Opportunity
to play at home. [My] parents [are] very excited. [It’s] great to be
here year round.”
Devils goalkeeper Martin Brodeur had sounded positive about the chances
of Parise re-signing with the team earlier this week after he signed on
for two more seasons.
“Zach is a priority [for] the Devils,” Brodeur said in a conference call
announcing his re-signing. “He is a franchise player. [He] worked very
hard; played very well for us. [I] want him to come back.
“I talked to him a lot [Sunday]; talked to him a lot this morning and
will talk to him later,” Brodeur said. “The decision is so hard. [It] is
a tough decision for him.”
Like Parise, Suter spent the entirety of his career with one team, the
Nashville Predators. In seven seasons with Nashville, Suter compiled 38
goals and 238 points in 542 games and was plus-43.
Suter, a native of Madison, Wisc., said he called Predators general
manager David Poile and defensive partner Shea Weber to break the news
of his decision. He termed the call to Poile, “[the] toughest phone call
I ever had to make.” Poile told reporters in Nashville that he was
“disappointed and a little surprised.”
The acquisitions of Parise and Suter, along with the signings of Torrey
Mitchell, Zenon Konopka and Jake Dowell, appear to strengthen a Wild
team that finished 12th in the Western Conference last season and have
not qualified for the playoffs since 2007-08.
But the Wild have an intriguing core, including Dany Heatley, Mikko
Koivu, Devin Setoguchi and goaltender Niklas Backstrom, along with a
highly regarded prospect pool, highlighted by Charlie Coyle.
While Parise wouldn’t predict a playoff berth for the Wild next year,
Suter said that “Minnesota has a lot of good, young players” and that
the two newest members of the organization “have a lot of pressure on
ourselves.”
The Devils will host the Wild on Nov. 11 in the only 2012-13 regular
season meeting between the two teams. The Wild will play in Nashville on
Dec. 1 and March 9.
Other than acknowledging the Devils were in the mix, Parise did not
disclose the franchises that had made offers to him. Suter noted that he
met with Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and “they were there to the end.”
He also said Nashville fell out of the running “probably [Wednesday]
morning.”
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1146911--zach-parise-shuns-devils-signs-with-wild
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 5:53 PM
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