If I were you guys, I'd go out and put money on the Wild winning the cup while the odds are still low. Come tomorrow, after a press conference at the Xcel Energy Center, those odds will look much, much better.
Really?
I honestly don't see the Wild as a contender, even with Parise and/or Suter.
Hockey Buzz Eklund @Eklund
It is looking more and more likely that Parise would have to take substantially less bonus to stay in NJ. I feel he moves on to Chicago.
I honestly don't see the Wild as a contender, even with Parise and/or Suter.
Disagree. They have a few key inuries that basically through off their great start. They have a couple young players that are extremely underrated and its just a matter of time.
That and it's also likely a play to milk every last bit of money/term from the team he really wants to play for. Both Parise and Suter probably have prefered locations lined up but why sign the first offer made when you have multiple parties bidding and can hold out in hopes of all parties playing off each other in hopes of getting a sweeter offer? One million on say a $60 million deal may not seem like much in scope but $1 million is a lot of money. Much like how Richards used the Flames offer in hopes the Rangers would maximize their offer. The Flames were never on Richards list of preferred destinations while the Rangers were at the top of his list. It's absurd to think he really thought hard about spending the rest of his career in Calgary when NY was right there with a similar offer. It's all part of the game for player/agent and GM's.
I'm starting to questions the fashion chops of the Emperor's tailor here.
It's tough for me to see how a 5 ft, 11 in player who put up 69 points and was a -5 last season is really worth $10 million+ a year for the next decade.
A good player? Yes, certainly.
Post-season success. Yep.
A franchise player? Hmmmm.
Didn't the Devils already have two of those in Kovalchuk and Brodeur?
Disagree. They have a few key inuries that basically through off their great start. They have a couple young players that are extremely underrated and its just a matter of time.
Their great start was a mirage IMO.
Anyone that thinks the Wild were anywhere near as good as their start was simply fooling themselves.
We offered Richards 65 million and he got 58. He didn't use us to leverage anything.
How do you figure he didn't try to use the Flames offer to get more out of the Rangers? That is how the process of negotiation works. The Rangers probably just called his bluff knowing they were his prime destination and that he wouldn't sign in Calgary.
I'm starting to questions the fashion chops of the Emperor's tailor here.
It's tough for me to see how a 5 ft, 11 in player who put up 69 points and was a -5 last season is really worth $10 million+ a year for the next decade.
A good player? Yes, certainly.
Post-season success. Yep.
A franchise player? Hmmmm.
Didn't the Devils already have two of those in Kovalchuk and Brodeur?
If you classify Kovalchuk a franchise player, then Parise is one as well. Kovalchuk is not a leader at all, and without Parise's leadership I don't think the Devils make it past the 2nd round.
