First one of Zach Parise’s high-powered Toronto agents showed up in Tampa, then the other at Monday’s Florida Fiasco.
Barely three months from the Feb. 27 trade deadline as the Devils play host to the Blue Jackets tonight, the double-team signals the Parise Press is on.
Friday, it was super-agent Don Meehan, founder and head of Newport Sports Management, dining with the Devils captain in Tampa. Then Parise’s lead representative, Newport’s Wade Arnott, turned up in Fort Lauderdale to schmooze and discuss Parise’s next contract. But not strategize, they said.
“It was nothing. I just hadn’t seen them in a while,” said Parise, 27, making $6 million this season.
Most opposition figures firmly believe Parise will play elsewhere next season. Their arguments are compelling.
First, the Devils’ financial picture doesn’t inspire confidence the Devils can afford to be competitive regarding his contract, nor competitive in acquiring other players to build the Stanley Cup winner that has always been Parise’s objective.
Secondly, the Devils have not won anything beyond the first round during Parise’s tenure. The “always have a chance” mantra starts to ring hollow after six early springs.
Third, Parise can’t be certain of the prime on-ice role at left wing, not with Ilya Kovalchuk on hand for another 13 years.
Fourth, Newark is Newark. It’s not Florida, nor California, nor even his Minnesota home.
Fifth, because of all of the above, Lamoriello would hate watching Parise leave for nothing in July, so might deal him by the February deadline. But those close to the situation doubt the final conclusion, believing Lamoriello won’t scuttle this season with what would surely be an unequal talent swap, even though he traded his captain (Jamie Langenbrunner to Dallas) last year.
“We want Zach Parise to be here. He wants to be here. We’ll do everything we can,” Lamoriello said.
Once July strikes, however, Parise is likely to sign somewhere before the current CBA expires in September. While the example of 2005’s 24-percent pay cut on existing contracts is a major concern, it is believed more likely contracts signed under a new CBA will be limited to five years in duration, and Parise’s camp would want something far longer.
mark.everson@nypost.com