WILD THING: Former Devils captain Zach Parise, along with former Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter, both signed 13-year, $98 million deals with Minnesota yesterday. (AP)
Twice in a month, the Devils are runners-up among 30 teams. Nice try again, but second is still nowhere, and losing captain Zach Parise wounds their future more deeply than losing the Stanley Cup Finals.
“You don’t replace Zach Parise. You just don’t do that,” Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello acknowledged after the star left wing signed Wednesday with the Wild for $98 million over 13 years.
“It’s a loss. Without question. Besides the points he put up,” Lamoriello said.
If it looks like a conspiracy, it’s because it is. Parise and ex-Predators defenseman Ryan Suter months ago discussed what became their simultaneous jumps to Minnesota for similar contracts.
“Ryan and I talked throughout the year, at times saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be great playing with each other, and playing on the same team?’ ” Parise said.
“At the end, it came between New Jersey and Minnesota, it really did. I have great friends in New Jersey. I’m a loyal person,” Parise said. “Going back [Nov. 11 vs. Devils in Newark] is going to be pretty unique. It will be tough with all the memories and all the people.
“I feel like I gave everything I had. I don’t think anyone can argue with that.”
Parise said he understands Devils fans are upset with his departure.
“I get it. I can see it from their standpoint,” Parise said. “I did everything I could to help that team win.”
Lamoriello said the Devils did their best to keep him. He couldn’t change where the Minnesota native was born.
“Our offer was competitive and we did not have, at any time, a phone call [indicating] we needed to change it, or it had to go up,” Lamoriello said. “In my mind, our organization did everything possible to retain him.”
Though Lamoriello re-signed nearly everyone else from the Stanley Cup finalists, Parise joins the Devils’ exodus tradition of Scott Stevens (matched and kept), Bobby Holik, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Dave Andreychuk, Scott Niedermayer, Bruce Driver, Scott Gomez, Brian Rafalski and Brian Gionta.
“We’re disappointed,” Lamoriello said.
Parise is the second Devils captain to depart in less than two years. Jamie Langenbrunner was traded to Dallas in January 2011.
“We have a lot of generals, a lot of leaders,” Lamoriello said. “I don’t think there is a leadership issue at all.”
Parise finished third in team scoring last season at 31-38-69. He went 8-7-15 in 24 playoff games. His most productive season was 2008-09 when he went 45-49-94. He stands 194-216-410 in 502 NHL games and 21-22-43 in 61 playoff games, all with New Jersey. He made his NHL debut Oct. 5, 2005, scoring his first goal and assist that night. This spring’s run to the finals was the closest he came to winning a Stanley Cup.
After missing nearly the entire 2010-11 season from knee surgery, Parise settled a team-requested arbitration case last July by accepting a one-year, $6 million contract. At the time, Lamoriello said the deal would provide “a springboard” for negotiations toward a long-term contract.
It never happened. As has been his usual practice, Lamoriello did not engage Parise in contract talks last season, and the Devils’ run to the finals delayed the start of talks this summer.
Despite the team’s financial troubles, Lamoriello managed to re-sign unrestricted goaltender Martin Brodeur, goalie Johan Hedberg, defenseman Bryce Salvador and forwards Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier.
Once Parise hit unrestricted free agency, Lamoriello was a regular suitor, making personal pleas on a daily basis.
Parise and Suter each are to receive a $10 million signing bonus now, another $10 million bonus next July, and another $5 million bonus in July, 2014. Salaries will be $2 million for each of the first two seasons, $6 million the third, $9 million in each of the next five, before falling in the final five years.
The Devils saved themselves some $7 million in cap hit, and some $12 million in salary over the next year, but Lamoriello says he isn’t going on a shopping spree.
“We’re going to try to make our team better. But we’re not going to spend money just to spend money,” Lamoriello said.
Now the question surrounding the team is how it solves its financial issues. As a matter of fact, that was a question that factored into Parise’s thinking.