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    Puck Daddy

    Zach Parise says Devils’ financial debt won’t affect contract decision

    By Greg Wyshynski | Puck Daddy – Thu, Feb 2, 2012 1:06 PM EST

    138027355As you might have heard, the New Jersey Devils are in a big of a sticky wicket when it comes to finances.

    The NHL is advancing the team payments on revenue while principle owners Jeff Vanderbeek and Ray Chambers squabble, and while Vanderbeek figures a way out from under about $80 million in debt.

    With the Montreal Canadiens in Jersey to face the Devils, Parise was asked on Thursday whether this news will impact his eventual contract decision as he head into unrestricted free agency.

    From Fire & Ice:

    "I don't know too much about it," Parise said this morning. "I don't know what's going on behind the scenes. The only thing I've been told is it's not going to make a difference. That's what I'm going on. As far as what's going to happen, I really don't know really anything about what's happening."

    Regarding trade talk, he said:

    "I know that stuff is coming," he said. "If it's not coming from (GM)  Lou (Lamoriello), there's no use for me to try to read into stuff."

    Parise keeps reiterating that his decision will be based on which situation gives him "a chance to win" going forward in his NHL career. It's the same thing his father, J.P. Parise, said back in December when the subject of Zach Parise returning home to play in Minnesota with the Wild was broached. Via the Star Tribune:

    "Money will be a factor, of course," J.P. Parise said. "But he likes to win, he likes to have a chance, he likes to compete. ... That's why he decided to accept a one-year contract. He wants to see where [the Devils] are heading, what kind of players they have. They have acquired some good young players. He's not going to rush into anything. He'll take his time, analyze the whole thing.''

    So winning is everything, but not the only thing. If the money isn't a primary issue, it'll be fascinating to see Parise weigh affection for the team that drafted him (and which he captains), affinity for his home state and what his other suitors will offer.

     

    29 comments

    • OverUnder
      OverUnder  •  Trenton, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      Another nice little donkey punch to the Devils haters. I love it.

      Even our favorite closet Orange Mush fan Wysh couldn't put a negative spin on this one.
    • Mr. Harry Nuckles
      Mr. Harry Nuckles  •  3 months ago
      Ugly Kid has to learn to collect his thoughts and make ONE intelligent post. The definition of ADD...
    • Swany
      Swany  •  Minneapolis, Minnesota  •  3 months ago
      Kiss him goodbye Devil fans. He will test free agency and be getting a competitive offer from the Wild. His home town and where he and his fiance just bought a new million dollar pad on Lake Minnetonka.
    • canuck901
      canuck901  •  Winnipeg, Canada  •  3 months ago
      Parise will be a Devil forever, the Devils have a solid team right now, they just need a goalie.
      The Devils could be easily contending for 1st place in the east if they had a young consistent goaltender.
      marty B just doesn't have it anymore to be a #1 goalie, his save % is well below average to be a starter in the NHL the last few years
      • BC
        BC 3 months ago
        if parise WANTS to be in new jersey for the remainder of his career he should tell lou to trade him and hedberg to vancouver for schneider and a salary dump to make the numbers work. then sign back with the devils july 1st. why not use your own value to set your team up with a goalie? if he WANTS to be a career devil and is truly dedicated to this organization he should take it upon himself to set his team up for now and the future. he is in position to do whatever he wants (UFA stud) and i don't think anyone knows what that is but himself. we'll find out july 1st. to be honest, i have a feeling he is not going back to new jersey. all 30 teams will be in on his services.
      • Swany
        Swany 3 months ago
        There is almost zero chance he signs with the Devils in the off-season. He isn't happy there for a few reasons. His dad has expressed this several times on local MN radio. He will test free agency and most likely take top offer and or go to Detroit / MN
      • Steve A
        Steve A 3 months ago
        Winnipeg, Are you blind or stupid? Did you see one minute if the game last night? Without Marty we lose, without Marty in most of the SOs we pretty much lose. Yea he's not the same Marty of old, it seems like the only goals he lets up are what I call Doo Doo goals like deflections off David Desharnais's face, but it's not all his fault. The defense while talented is often caught out of position and Kovy on the point during the PP has led to most if not all of the 13 SH goals against. As for Parise the golden senario is trade him now (Det maybe), get some new toys and then try to sign him back for next season. The Devils cannot win the east right now. If we pull the 6th seed and play and SE division winner that's the only way we get out of the 1st round, aint no way we do better than a 6th seed. Once thats done then its Bruins/Ranger/Sens/Pens/Flyers we have to worry about, plus whoever wins the West. We'll see how we do in the next few games, and we'll monitor Zachie to see if his value can go up even more but its a rough schedule.
    • Josh
      Josh  •  Newark, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      Zach knows that new jersey is a quality place to play and has a bright future with the youngsters Henrique and Larsson, as well as Kovy finally looking like a world class player again. He is happy and his father will tell him if he is happy, not to take it for granted. The finical situation of the franchise will work itself out and won't affect the team. If the coyotes are still afloat, the devils will be fine.
    • Zack
      Zack  •  Troy, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      God I'd love to see him in the Winged Wheel. NJ better lock him up before the end of the season. They'd be missing out on a hell of a great player.
    • Bruins309
      Bruins309  •  3 months ago
      I can just picture the fantasy in Wysh's head, which is probably Parise saying something like: "I don't always sign $60 million contracts...but when I do, I make sure to do it with a team on the verge of bankruptcy. Stay thirsty, my friends."
      • bigbert_03
        bigbert_03 3 months ago
        right before he starts manscaping...
    • AW
      AW  •  3 months ago
      Lou will get it done,Zach and Devs aint goin nowhere! all the haters love this bankruptcy #$%$
      • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
        actually we don't because we're kind of sick of subsidizing all these types of teams
      • Swany
        Swany 3 months ago
        feel free to tell me I am right once he doesn't stay in Jersey this summer. Kiss him goodbye.
    • UGLY KID
      UGLY KID  •  Toms River, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      Zach is going NOWHERE
      Lou will get it done...HE ALWAYS DOES.....
      He is our CAPTAIN and the HEART AND SOUL OF THIS TEAM...
      ZACH'S 2-WAY PLAY IS OF THE BEST IN THE NHL
      HE NEVER QUITS WHEN HE IS ON THE ICE...
      WATCH HIM SKATE FOR A PERIOD...YOU WILL SEE THIS MAN NEVER STOPS WHILE HE IS ON THE ICE
      • Swany
        Swany 3 months ago
        Lou always get's it done??? LOLOL. He is known for screwing these things up and everything is showing that he will leave. Man you Jersey folk are huge blind homers.... He was given C in efforts to keep him in that sweater for years to come. They should have paid him last year. Would have saved them money and all this #$%$
    • Mr. Harry Nuckles
      Mr. Harry Nuckles  •  3 months ago
      Parise will be playing in NJ for many more years, but only when the Pens come to town. Top line: Crosby/Parise/Dupuis.
      • Ken2220
        Ken2220 3 months ago
        He's not going to willingly live in Pittsburgh. Nobody would.
      • UGLY KID
        UGLY KID 3 months ago
        Sindy is DONE...
        and Zach is Not going to be a pen...
        the Pens have more money troubles than NJ
    • UGLY KID
      UGLY KID  •  Toms River, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      Wysh Wishes Filthy Philly had Zach...
      A Team Leader
      A Tried and Tested 2-way player
      Great on PK/PP 5/5 4/4
      and his Shootout style is #2 in the league next to Kovy....
    • UGLY KID
      UGLY KID  •  Toms River, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      One thing is for Sure...
      That Improvised line of KOVY-PATRIK and PARISE is UNSTOPPABLE..................
    • UGLY KID
      UGLY KID  •  Toms River, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      Wysh and the Devils haters are getting worried....
      Devils have stayed in the hunt while PDB has been getting the feel for his team...
      If we hit a hot streak like last year......WATCH OUT
    • UGLY KID
      UGLY KID  •  Toms River, New Jersey  •  3 months ago
      Zach is a TRUE DEVIL.....He will do what all the TRUE Devils (marty, Stevens, Elias and many many other Devils have done over the years.) sign for a little less and stay with a winner who makes the playoffs 9 out of every 10 seasons
    • Greg D
      Greg D  •  Belleville, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      play for the red wings. hes a 50 goal scorer if he plays with datsyuk. id sign him for 4-6 million a year (depending on contract length and yearly hit etc etc) this offseason. Lidstrom's salary comes off the books and unless he's getting replaced by weber there will be a ton of cap space, not to mention the 5 million this year in free space.
    • Tyler
      Tyler  •  3 months ago
      please edit your blogs
    • Jeff
      Jeff  •  Allentown, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      A writer or blogger or whatever, when doing it for a public organization like Yahoo, should not be allowed to write about the team he or she follows, let alone write about that team CONSTANTLY like this guy does. I love reading his non-Devils stuff, but could we see some more of it instead of stuff about a team no one cares about, even in their home state???
    • Jessica S
      Jessica S  •  Halifax, Canada  •  3 months ago
      habs gotta trade price and subban..thats their problem..they are let downs..trade for parise..
    • peteyd3
      peteyd3  •  3 months ago
      If the Devils really wanted to keep Parise, they would have never signed Kovy to that monstrous contract.
    • fingolfin1325
      fingolfin1325  •  3 months ago
      80 million in debt? Kovalchuk has 94,000,000$ left on his contract...
     Post a comment

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