Devils reportedly gave parise a very competitive offer and we all know kovys contract

Drafting middle of drafts is hit or miss but lou has found nice picks in the 2nd round or later

We all wish we had some young skilled forward prospects

I have a strange feeling lou might go for vanek in desperation
- dmarsden2988

This is probably been said before but Lou (frank)ed it up 100%. Signing our best player and captain to a 1 year deal taking him to free agency was a stupid move. Probably his worst move ever. I really hope we don't go for big rentals because Lou won't resign them before the offseason and by then they will want to test the market.

imagine if parise stayed, kovy didnt ditch and we still signed jagr

parise-henrique-kovy
clowe-zajac-jagr
ryder-elias-zubrus
gio-carter-bernier



- dmarsden2988

we'd win shootouts again. We'd have a legit top line with players that are better scorers than other players. .. not just average. A line with players that can beat other players one on one.. and allow for Elias-Zajac-Jagr to be SECONDARY instead of primary scoring. This is what happens when u have great players. and we did.. just last year.. and the year before that, we went to the Cup Final and came within overtime losses and the first ever boarding major in a Cup Finals elimination game, after missing a blatant boarding call for the hit on Gio. Then the ref setting a pick in our defensive end.. resulting in another goal. History was made. I'll never feel vindicated for that joke of a game 6.

DOD OD ODODODODOD OD OD DO OD OD DOODOD ODODODODODO

imagine if parise stayed, kovy didnt ditch and we still signed jagr

parise-henrique-kovy
clowe-zajac-jagr
ryder-elias-zubrus
gio-carter-bernier



- dmarsden2988

Damn now why did you have to go and say that?!

Jagr ripping into Pete haha. Good I don't understand splitting up Zajac and Jagr either. Why not just keep Patty with them? Does anyone know how many games Elias has played with them? Has he even had a complete game? We barely score so the whole balance the lineup and spread the wealth really doesn't work. It's great in theory but we simply do not have the horses to pull this off.

imagine if are GM paid players and didn't waste half a decade on drafting swedish exchange students?
- devfan30

Parise was offered a similar contract to kovys

Parise was offered a similar contract to kovys
- shvingter88

I am glad he didnt sign here for that money. He just isnt worth Kovy money. We certainly could use Parise though but not at what he got.

Still think those deals will haunt Minny in the long run.

If they don't bring home a cup in the next 4 years or so, Parise and Suter start to enter the diminishing asset category. At 33/34 years of age, they're obviously still good players, but every year they will get worse and worse and they'll still be locked up forever at that big cap price.

We would've been in the same boat with Kovy.

Still think those deals will haunt Minny in the long run.

If they don't bring home a cup in the next 4 years or so, Parise and Suter start to enter the diminishing asset category. At 33/34 years of age, they're obviously still good players, but every year they will get worse and worse and they'll still be locked up forever at that big cap price.

We would've been in the same boat with Kovy.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I can't wait until they sign vanek for a similar deal

I can't wait until they sign vanek for a similar deal
- shvingter88

And Miller and the rest of the Sabres

And Miller and the rest of the Sabres
- blizzzard

Minnesota sabers

And Miller and the rest of the Sabres
- blizzzard

I legitimately don't understand why they are linked to all these Sabres players who, when put together, comprised an epic failure of a team.

I legitimately don't understand why they are linked to all these Sabres players who, when put together, comprised an epic failure of a team.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Columbus rangers

Minnesota sabers
- shvingter88

I wonder if they would take one of our poop contracts like Sal or A-train for Heatley. I wouldnt give up anything more but on this team that lacks talent I seriously think Heatley could be more effective the Ryder especially if put on that top lw spot with Zajac and Jagr he would be the guy banging in all those glorious chances Zajac doesnt want to convert on and clears a spot on the back end. Minny gets like 3+ million dollars in cap relief to try and add Vanek at the deadline of friday.

Columbus rangers
- shvingter88

Winnipeg Thrashers... Oh wait nvm.

I wonder if they would take one of our poop contracts like Sal or A-train for Heatley. I wouldnt give up anything more but on this team that lacks talent I seriously think Heatley could be more effective the Ryder especially if put on that top lw spot with Zajac and Jagr he would be the guy banging in all those glorious chances Zajac doesnt want to convert on and clears a spot on the back end. Minny gets like 3+ million dollars in cap relief to try and add Vanek at the deadline of friday.
- blizzzard

I don't think our trash is going anywhere. We could waive all those guys like Sal, Volchenkov, Harrold, no one would touch them with a ten foot poll. My guess is Lou might sign Heatley to a 2-year deal this offseason.

We like taking washed up guys and trying to squeeze the last bit of hockey out of them.

I am glad he didnt sign here for that money. He just isnt worth Kovy money. We certainly could use Parise though but not at what he got.
- blizzzard

sometimes, in real life, you have to pay or overpay for what you need. We need, and will always need Parise, until a player with the combined elements of intangibles, leadership, a tireless motor and work ethic, a nose for the net, speed, tenacity both offensively AND defensively, and a 30+ goal scorer. How many players that do that on Parise's level make much less than him? What is overpaying 1 million compared to not having a huge piece to your team? overpaying 2 million? I'd take him back in a heartbeat for what he's making in Minnesota. The cap is going up too. You NEED to PAY GREAT players. Otherwise we'll be icing a team of mediocrity.. which is exactly what we're doing. Oh but we're not overpaying someone and giving them 8mil to play here!... well then you don't have a superstar, a difference maker, a guy that gives you an edge. You have mediocrity.

You're glad he didn't sign here for that money? You're glad we have a mediocre team? You're glad that now we have to look at either trading valuable assets, or spending big bucks in free agency to put together a competitive team? Yea, good thing Parise didn't sign here for God forbid.. a horrendous 7.5mil cap hit for the next 7 or so years.
That player, for that price, is exactly what this team needs. You take Jagr away and what leader does this team have? Elias? Greene? That's nice, now who's going to make a difference on the ice?

Our only option is to suck for years and draft high picks, or spend just as much money, if not more, on a UFA star.. OR trade valuable assets.

Good thing we don't have Parise at 7.5 .. because then we wouldn't have to be concerned with all this nonsense!

I don't think our trash is going anywhere. We could waive all those guys like Sal, Volchenkov, Harrold, no one would touch them with a ten foot poll. My guess is Lou might sign Heatley to a 2-year deal this offseason.

We like taking washed up guys and trying to squeeze the last bit of hockey out of them.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Yea but that would only add salary to their team so its not quite the same. If we move one for a guy with a contract like Heatley then they gain cap, they dont gain any cap by picking a guy off waivers. They probably still dont do it though as this is Heatleys last year and both Sal and Volchenkov are signed for next season so they likely hang on and let him walk as a free agent as they likely dont need to trade for Vanek when its all but certain he will sign there anyways.

Interesting thing I heard recently: Deboer or Lou or anybody didn't pick Sal as captain, the players elected him. I always thought it was Deboer for some reason.

sometimes, in real life, you have to pay or overpay for what you need. We need, and will always need Parise, until a player with the combined elements of intangibles, leadership, a tireless motor and work ethic, a nose for the net, speed, tenacity both offensively AND defensively, and a 30+ goal scorer. How many players that do that on Parise's level make much less than him? What is overpaying 1 million compared to not having a huge piece to your team? overpaying 2 million? I'd take him back in a heartbeat for what he's making in Minnesota. The cap is going up too. You NEED to PAY GREAT players. Otherwise we'll be icing a team of mediocrity.. which is exactly what we're doing. Oh but we're not overpaying someone and giving them 8mil to play here!... well then you don't have a superstar, a difference maker, a guy that gives you an edge. You have mediocrity.

You're glad he didn't sign here for that money? You're glad we have a mediocre team? You're glad that now we have to look at either trading valuable assets, or spending big bucks in free agency to put together a competitive team? Yea, good thing Parise didn't sign here for God forbid.. a horrendous 7.5mil cap hit for the next 7 or so years.
That player, for that price, is exactly what this team needs. You take Jagr away and what leader does this team have? Elias? Greene? That's nice, now who's going to make a difference on the ice?

Our only option is to suck for years and draft high picks, or spend just as much money, if not more, on a UFA star.. OR trade valuable assets.

Good thing we don't have Parise at 7.5 .. because then we wouldn't have to be concerned with all this nonsense!
- MartysBetter88

You must not understand how players decline since you had the same rant about cami sure he is on pace for however many goals playing in a certain place doesnt make it more valuable someone still has to score it has to be someone (frank) kulemin scored 30 goals once. Parise is a star player I wouldnt put him in the top 15 players in the NHL by any stretch regardless of intangibles he will continue to decline and it will be cap wasted on a guy who is going to continue to get worse I never once said we couldnt use him or he wouldnt be an upgrade on this team but the guy is not even close to the legend you make him out to be. Get mad all you want that I said he wasnt worth Kovy dollars because he isnt near as talented as Kovy was and with his style of play and his size he will decline fast once it starts to happen.

Idk, I think you guys are missing the boat with Minnesota.

Parise and Suter are 29, Vanek just turned 30, Pominville is 31.

Parise/Suter are locked in at 7.5 a piece until they're 40. It's more likely that they'll retire before then, and by that time 7.5 then will bel like 4 now. It's not crazy. So what if 3 out of the 12 seasons they've had them are less productive. That's still 9 competitive seasons with great players to build around. Would you rather have that.. or have nothing? I'm not liking having nothing.. and I'm not including Schneider because 1. he's not locked up, and 2. Minnesota has Harding and Kuemper.. who have both been great.
Pominville is signed till he's 36 at 5.6. Koivu till he's 35 at 6.75.
This isn't crazy. You PAY great players. We don't.. which is why we lose them.

With Heatley coming off the books next year, they have over 21mil in cap space. So what if they get Vanek for 8 years. That's still at least 5 great years out of him, and 3 years where he's probably as good as Elias is now. big deal. They have the space.

Granlund, Coyle, Kuemper are still on their ELCs! They're not going to be averaging 4 mil in their next contracts.

Minnesota is in a good place. They have star power, and if they get Vanek, they'll have a Parise/Kovy tandem, with Koivu and Pominville AND Suter. They have young kids that can play. AND they have cap space. I'd trade places with them in a heartbeat. You scoff because Parise and Suter will be 40 when their deals run out? They'll either retire or still be serviceable, and given the fact that Minni will get at the minimum, 7 great years out of them.. I'll take that.

Interesting thing I heard recently: Deboer or Lou or anybody didn't pick Sal as captain, the players elected him. I always thought it was Deboer for some reason.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I wonder what would happen if the fans had a re-vote.

I can't think of any other captain in the league that more than 50% of the fans would like to see as a healthy scratch.

You must not understand how players decline since you had the same rant about cami sure he is on pace for however many goals playing in a certain place doesnt make it more valuable someone still has to score it has to be someone (frank) kulemin scored 30 goals once. Parise is a star player I wouldnt put him in the top 15 players in the NHL by any stretch regardless of intangibles he will continue to decline and it will be cap wasted on a guy who is going to continue to get worse I never once said we couldnt use him or he wouldnt be an upgrade on this team but the guy is not even close to the legend you make him out to be. Get mad all you want that I said he wasnt worth Kovy dollars because he isnt near as talented as Kovy was and with his style of play and his size he will decline fast once it starts to happen.
- blizzzard

He's not 35. He's 29. He's not a legend, but he's a game breaker. Maybe you were too young or just have amnesia from when he was here. Hockey sense is a 10. Work ethic is a 10. Tenacity on BOTH ends of the ice is a 10. Speed is a 9. Stick handling is an 8. Leadership is an 8 (the guy is captain of USA). Grit and toughness is an 8 (given his size). SHOOTOUTS is an 8. His shot is a 7. Sounds like someone we desperately need.
That's a player that you pay to have on your team. If those numbers stay the same for the next 5 years and then drop half a point per year for the remaining 5, then you still have had a great player for 5 years, and then still a really good player for the next 5. There is such a thing as great players between 29-35. If you don't want any, then you can continue to sell once they get to that age.. and since that probably coincides with not having early picks, due to having said star on your team, when they leave.. you probably won't have top end prospects to replace them.

.. which is exactly where we are.

the idea was for Parise and Kovy to stay long term (Kovy a bit too long obviously.. but look at Jagr! Kovy is built with a similar body.. but may lack Jagr's drive), included them being here for the transition of Elias and the 36+ crew leaving, and Henrique and the 22 and under group maturing into solid players. In the meantime, we'd probably be picking 20-30th overall, but it wouldn't kill us like it does now, because if a top pick doesn't pan out.. we'd still have more years for another to hopefully work, without being concerned about how we're presently going to compete as a team. Now, we don't have that luxury. We have defensive prospects that thankfully seem to be panning out, but not every forward we've drafted is projected to be an NHLer. We have veterans on their way out, some mid 20s guys.. kids on D.. weak O. And NO stars 28-33 to continue the success the veterans once had. Sure, we can go sign Ryder and Brunner and Clowe.. and HOPE adding 2nd/3rd liners will collectively put us over the top and help us be a contender.. but in reality it's just adding more 2nd/3rd liners.. and every team has 2nd/3rd liners to compete against them. It's depth COMBINED with star power that makes you a legit contender. We only have half. We WOULD have both if we had Parise and Kovy, or at least 1 of them, but you seem to think it's better we let Parise go.. because he was 28 going on 38. Not the best choice. It was bad then, and devastation after the only other star we had decided to retire. Now we're left with the exact team I described before, depth but no stars= mediocre. Not a contender.

At least with paying Parise (and ideally having Kovy), we'd still be able to legitimately compete for a Cup, while not rushing Boucher/Matteau, and while continuing to draft and hope for some good forwards.

We can disagree on this. I just see infinite more pros than cons to having Parise for 7.5 ... even until he's at the gastric age of 40! The idea is that in 10 years from now, we'd have forwards coming up through the system. .. like Boucher, Henrique etc, that would hopefully take the role of primary scoring. When you have 10 years to draft.. the chances are you'll find at least 1 star out of those picks, while still being competitive.

the only con is paying a guy 7.5 .. which again, by that time it would feel like 4 or less.. for more of a role player/captain. But if dealing with that for 2 years or whatever is the worst thing, and having a great player for 7-8 years is the alternative.. I'm still taking that deal.

what are the other options?

Pay 7.5 to a different UFA. Who are you planning to give that money to?
Trade the farm for a star forward.

.. or just keep the forward that fit your system and MADE your engine run, and was the captain, and did so many things that help you earn points in the standings.

i'm not arguing Parise vs. Kovy. Ideally you want both. You want a Crosby AND Malkin AND Letang. You want a Toews AND Kane AND Keith/Seabrook. The Parise AND Vanek AND Suter. BOTH of the Sedin twins. Getzlaf AND Perry AND Niedermayer. Datsyuk AND Zetterberg AND Lidstrom. Thornton, Marleau, Boyle. OV, Backstrom, Green, Kopitar and Doughty and the combined Carter/Richards. Giving 6-8 to each isn't nuts. Thats what most teams, including Cup teams, give to their star players. Most contending teams have more than one 7+ forward/D. That's what you do. Parise wouldn't be a bad player to give that to, even at age 28 when he signed it. He was 28, not 35. Even when he's 35, he'll still be a good player. Don't get 28 year old Parise confused with a 28 year old Callahan. What he wants IS crazy. He brings a lot, but Parise is worth the 1.5-2mil more than what Callahan should be getting.

He's not 35. He's 29. He's not a legend, but he's a game breaker. Maybe you were too young or just have amnesia from when he was here. Hockey sense is a 10. Work ethic is a 10. Tenacity on BOTH ends of the ice is a 10. Speed is a 9. Stick handling is an 8. Leadership is an 8 (the guy is captain of USA). Grit and toughness is an 8 (given his size). SHOOTOUTS is an 8. His shot is a 7. Sounds like someone we desperately need.
That's a player that you pay to have on your team. If those numbers stay the same for the next 5 years and then drop half a point per year for the remaining 5, then you still have had a great player for 5 years, and then still a really good player for the next 5. There is such a thing as great players between 29-35. If you don't want any, then you can continue to sell once they get to that age.. and since that probably coincides with not having early picks, due to having said star on your team, when they leave.. you probably won't have top end prospects to replace them.

.. which is exactly where we are.

the idea was for Parise and Kovy to stay long term (Kovy a bit too long obviously.. but look at Jagr! Kovy is built with a similar body.. but may lack Jagr's drive), included them being here for the transition of Elias and the 36+ crew leaving, and Henrique and the 22 and under group maturing into solid players. In the meantime, we'd probably be picking 20-30th overall, but it wouldn't kill us like it does now, because if a top pick doesn't pan out.. we'd still have more years for another to hopefully work, without being concerned about how we're presently going to compete as a team. Now, we don't have that luxury. We have defensive prospects that thankfully seem to be panning out, but not every forward we've drafted is projected to be an NHLer. We have veterans on their way out, some mid 20s guys.. kids on D.. weak O. And NO stars 28-33 to continue the success the veterans once had. Sure, we can go sign Ryder and Brunner and Clowe.. and HOPE adding 2nd/3rd liners will collectively put us over the top and help us be a contender.. but in reality it's just adding more 2nd/3rd liners.. and every team has 2nd/3rd liners to compete against them. It's depth COMBINED with star power that makes you a legit contender. We only have half. We WOULD have both if we had Parise and Kovy, or at least 1 of them, but you seem to think it's better we let Parise go.. because he was 28 going on 38. Not the best choice. It was bad then, and devastation after the only other star we had decided to retire. Now we're left with the exact team I described before, depth but no stars= mediocre. Not a contender.

At least with paying Parise (and ideally having Kovy), we'd still be able to legitimately compete for a Cup, while not rushing Boucher/Matteau, and while continuing to draft and hope for some good forwards.

We can disagree on this. I just see infinite more pros than cons to having Parise for 7.5 ... even until he's at the gastric age of 40! The idea is that in 10 years from now, we'd have forwards coming up through the system. .. like Boucher, Henrique etc, that would hopefully take the role of primary scoring. When you have 10 years to draft.. the chances are you'll find at least 1 star out of those picks, while still being competitive.

the only con is paying a guy 7.5 .. which again, by that time it would feel like 4 or less.. for more of a role player/captain. But if dealing with that for 2 years or whatever is the worst thing, and having a great player for 7-8 years is the alternative.. I'm still taking that deal.

what are the other options?

Pay 7.5 to a different UFA. Who are you planning to give that money to?
Trade the farm for a star forward.

.. or just keep the forward that fit your system and MADE your engine run, and was the captain, and did so many things that help you earn points in the standings.

i'm not arguing Parise vs. Kovy. Ideally you want both. You want a Crosby AND Malkin AND Letang. You want a Toews AND Kane AND Keith/Seabrook. The Parise AND Vanek AND Suter. BOTH of the Sedin twins. Getzlaf AND Perry AND Niedermayer. Datsyuk AND Zetterberg AND Lidstrom. Thornton, Marleau, Boyle. OV, Backstrom, Green, Kopitar and Doughty and the combined Carter/Richards. Giving 6-8 to each isn't nuts. Thats what most teams, including Cup teams, give to their star players. Most contending teams have more than one 7+ forward/D. That's what you do. Parise wouldn't be a bad player to give that to, even at age 28 when he signed it. He was 28, not 35. Even when he's 35, he'll still be a good player. Don't get 28 year old Parise confused with a 28 year old Callahan. What he wants IS crazy. He brings a lot, but Parise is worth the 1.5-2mil more than what Callahan should be getting.
- MartysBetter88

You can only assume that thought Look at Lecavallier he was bought out because he just wasnt a 7.5 million dollar player anymre despite still being a 50-60 pt player. Parise at 29 is hovering around 70 pts you likely wont see to many more 80 pt season out of him and you will like start to see around 60 pt season within the next 2-3 years not 5-6 and is it worth paying a guy 7.5 for 8-10 years when you are getting 2-3 seasons of 70pts another 2-3 of 60 pts season and 3-4 of 50 ? I dont think its worth the risk 5 years max dollars im fine with that but not 8-10 years at a hit of 7.5 he will make almost 10 a few of those years

You can only assume that thought Look at Lecavallier he was bought out because he just wasnt a 7.5 million dollar player anymre despite still being a 50-60 pt player. Parise at 29 is hovering around 70 pts you likely wont see to many more 80 pt season out of him and you will like start to see around 60 pt season within the next 2-3 years not 5-6 and is it worth paying a guy 7.5 for 8-10 years when you are getting 2-3 seasons of 70pts another 2-3 of 60 pts season and 3-4 of 50 ? I dont think its worth the risk 5 years max dollars im fine with that but not 8-10 years at a hit of 7.5 he will make almost 10 a few of those years
- blizzzard

You're right, I'm assuming that. I'm assuming that because more players than not are very productive from 28-35. I think you will see plenty of 70 point seasons from Parise, especially if they get Vanek. Koivu and Pom are still in their primes as well. Granlund was a 9th overall pick and has only gotten better. You think Parise at 31 is going to be sitting on 60 points? If that's your opinion on Parise and how players age, then it's not even a discussion anymore.

I see 60 at 35, not 31. LOTS of players do it, and it's usually the players that have a great work ethic and passion for the game, combined with intangibles, great hockey sense, etc, that are able to keep producing. Again, this isn't Ryan Callahan we're talking about. Parise has a lot more offensive skill than that. So he's not a 230lb russian with a laser 1-timer. He's got hands and has a solid shot, and I already listed the rest of his strengths.

Either way, cap hit of 7.5 for 7 productive years from a very useful player on both ends of the ice, in the room and in the shootout, is worth it to me. He'll tail off after 35 like most players, but I still expect 50+.. just like Elias, for example. Yes 7.5 for 50 points may seem like a lot now, but when the cap continues to go up, 6-7 years from now, that 7.5 will seem more like 5. 5mil for a 50+ point player still isn't crazy, especially given the 70 point seasons within that contract. Even if he has 1 or 2 seasons at the end of his deal that he's averaging 40.. for the other years that he was a star, I'd still do it. It's worth it. Having a 70 point player for 5 years (taking him to 33), then 60 for 3, then 40+ for the rest, is still a good deal. The Cup isn't predicated on just Parise, but he can be a big piece in a Cup run. .. even at the horrible age of 33.

Again, the alternative is not signing a 70 point player, signing a bunch of 2nd/3rd liners.. and having a team without star power, having a mediocre team, and losing to better teams. All because you don't like the idea of a player having a few 50 point seasons at the end of his career.. while having several very productive seasons. I'll take that over mediocrity.