Parise may claim this anti-Rangers sentiment now, but we'll see for real on July 1st. |
ESPN.com-NEWARK, N.J. -- With the New Jersey Devils' season over and free agency only weeks away, there are several questions facing captain Zach Parise and his future with the team.
He answered one of those Wednesday when he unequivocally ruled out playing for the rival New York Rangers.
Asked three separate times whether he'd consider playing for the Rangers, Parise was unwavering in his responses.
"No."
The 27-year-old winger is set to become one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents on July 1, and the Rangers were expected to be one of his most aggressive suitors.
But from the way Parise made it sound during the team's locker clean-out day, the Rangers shouldn't even waste their time trying.
Among the front-runners expected to compete for Parise, assuming he hits the open market, the Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild all are expected to make a strong push.
Parise must have known the firestorm his comments would make, too.
After offering "no" to the question posed multiple ways, Parise added: "Don't try to get a headline out of it."
-Katie Strang
I see what you did here Parise, and I kinda like it, but I don't believe it one bit.
I like that Parise is trying to defend the system he grew up in, the system that transformed him from a promising young winger into America's captain and a star on the Eastern Conference winning New Jersey Devils. Yes, he's born and bred NJD, but I'm not so sure all this short, contrite talk against the Rangers is actually for real. I understand that hockey, more than other sports, holds its home players true, but Parise is going to demand a ton of money and I'm not so sure he'll take a hometown discount to stay in Newark. While his definite answer might say something about his sentiment now, it all really falls out the window on July 1st when the dollar signs start to get thrown around more often than a bullpen session.
The Devils and Rangers are somewhat in the same atmosphere in terms of cap space, but the Devils have more players to sign. The Rangers have around $13 mil to spend on 7 unrestricted spots and the Devils have around $21 mil to spend on 9 unrestricted spots. Yes, it does look a bit more of an attractive situation for the Devils since they have $8 mil more to spend on two more spots, but the Devils have much more high profile players to either resign or replace. Most of the Rangers unrestricted FAs are fourth liners, guys that are expendable even if John Tortorella salivates over hard working fourth lines. So it is a lot closer then it appears.
Parise can drop some "NO" bombs on the Rangers all he wants, I mean why would he even think about saying "yes" before he's an actual free agent. He's obviously not trying to burn any bridges with New Jersey's front office or turn the relatively weak Prudential Center crowd against him. Parise is a wanted man this offseason and he wants to do no wrong before he dips his toes in the piranha pool also known as free agency.
I'd say it's more likely that Parise goes to the Wild or Red Wings over the Rangers, because I'm not sure Glen Sather wants to swing his checkbook around, though Dolan may force his hand. I also don't know if it is truly the smart move economically, because the Rangers would have to drain most of their cap space to get Parise. That forces responsibilities onto young guys that I'm not confident the Rangers want to force, but then again Chris Kreider was thrust into the playoffs with much success. Yes, the Rangers do need some more scoring and yes Parise would fill that role, but it's hard to think Sather is going to pull the trigger on another fat deal on the heels of the Richards and Gaborik deals of late.
So Zach, I as a sports fan enjoy your hometown rhetoric, but I don't believe it. Money makes the world go 'round and it makes quotes like these disappear.
0 comments:
Post a Comment