It's Official: Zach Parise Named Captain of The New Jersey Devils

by Tom Stivali on Oct 5, 2011 12:52 PM EDT in What Do You Think?

Per Tom Gulitti, Zach Parise has been named the captain of the New Jersey Devils. Parise is the 9th captain in team history, following Don Lever, Mel Bridgman, Kirk Muller, Bruce Driver, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, current Devil Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner. The captain's role was left open after the trade of Jamie Langenbrunner to Dallas last year. Both Langenbrunner and Elias, among others, had lobbied for Parise to be the next Devils captain, despite the uncertainty regarding his future with the team. Parise is a unrestricted free agent at year's end.

Gulitti also reports that Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias will be alternate captains.

Was Parise your first choice for captain? Sound off below!

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Comments

Couldn’t be happier.

by dkball7 on Oct 5, 2011 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

I hope that the Devils are optimistic that they can get a long term contract extension. Because I want to punch a ton of Flyers fans (Or anyone who hates the Devils) square in their faces with all the “DERP PARISE WONT STAY DERRRRP” comments.

Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
That's it. I'm sending you to El Paso to live with your real parents.

by Kevin Sellathamby on Oct 5, 2011 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

I second that

Plus, punching Flyers fans in the face is typically a relaxing hobby when waiting for the regular season to begin. It relieves stress, and who couldn’t use some stress reduction?

Stress will kill you man…

by SatanicStickholders on Oct 5, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

But why stop just because the season begins?

Go Devils
Go Jets
Need to lose weight?

by FrankG929 on Oct 5, 2011 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

^ This. So much of this.

"On a scale of 1-10, I'd have to say 60 to 65 percent"
-NBA Union rep Billy Hunter

by Jersey_Puck on Oct 5, 2011 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Excellent point sir. It’s like my father used to say, “Every time you punch a Flyer’s fan, Barry Melrose shampoos his mullet.” We all know that a clean mullet is a happy mullet. So don’t do it for the sheer joy. Don’t even do it for the honor of our beloved team. Do it for the mullet.

by SatanicStickholders on Oct 5, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Keep in mind....

…. fans of Philadelphia’s professional sports teams haven’t had a whole lot to cheer about in the grand scheme of things. When your teams don’t win championships, many fans’ first instinct is to try and rain on everyone else’s parade. This is what the championship history of Philly looks like right now:

Phillies: Last title 2008.
76ers: Last title 1983.
Flyers: Last title 1975.
Eagles: Last title 1960.

Or to put it in greater perspective…. this is what the championship history of Boston looked like a decade ago (circa 2001, before the Super Bowl):

Celtics: Previous title 1986.
Bruins: Previous title 1972.
Red Sox: Previous title 1918.
Patriots: Previous title…. never.

I have family that lives in Boston…. and I experienced plenty of that sort of attitude where Boston fans would often try and ruin someone else’s high for lack of success of their own. Is it really any surprise that Philadelphia fans would be any different?

by acasser on Oct 5, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow, this is awesome. You’ve even got evidence to back up their unsavory behavior. I like it.

by SatanicStickholders on Oct 5, 2011 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Only real logical pick.

by dandello9 on Oct 5, 2011 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

my reaction was a ric flair woo

"Its the letter D"

by Rory B. Bellows on Oct 5, 2011 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

I hate that “Woo!” They blare it over the PA system at RBC Center whenever the Hurricanes score a goal…

by HockeyWeasel on Oct 5, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

But Zach being named captain is a good thing indeed.

by HockeyWeasel on Oct 5, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

This I love

TG on Zach P

This is why Zach is a great person, player and captain. Getting fed up with the media thinking he want’s out. Take that Mr. Burnside.

I love this.

Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies

by joshd12 on Oct 5, 2011 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Any of the 3

I think any of the 3 in any of the positions (C, Ac, Ac) would be agreeable.

"Everyone loves a comeback."

by DrWho720 on Oct 5, 2011 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

It’s always been my understanding that the Captain and Alternates are the only ones supposed to speak with the refs about calls etc., and that teams usually tried to ensure that at least one of the guys with a letter on their jersey was out there at all times.

With two of these three guys most probably playing on a line together, it seems like there will be less of a “letter” presence for such occasions… although I suppose they could be expecting that Kovalchuk will be playing 58 minutes per night…

by elesias on Oct 5, 2011 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

Well deserved Zach, exactly who i would have picked.
He should definitely try to fetch an extension sometime in the next year as well.

by JerseyKid. on Oct 5, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

It must have been Marty's and Lou's choice

If it’s ok with Marty, it’s a good choice IMO.
I love Kovy but don’t think he brings it every shift and a captain has to bring it every shift.

The Devils have won more titles than all Philly pro sports teams combined in the last 25 years

by Real Big Devils Fan on Oct 5, 2011 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

Seems unfair to say that Kovy doesn’t bring it every shift. If anything, there are times when he just tries to do too much and starts playing irresponsibly. Zach was always the choice here anyway, though.

Status quo.

by nyynygnjd on Oct 5, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Chorus is written, need to work on the Lyrics

Captain Zach will get you by tonight.
Just a little push, and you’ll be smilin’.

by pepe22 on Oct 5, 2011 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

Now Burnsides inevitably going to rant about how this is a bad move

I wonder if hes somehow related to that absolute fail of a civil war general.

In O'Ventbrel We Trust

ALL GLORY TO THFC

VICK-VICK-VICK-VICKTORIOUS

by NJoverNY on Oct 5, 2011 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

He’s absolutely going to question it, saying the Devils are foolish for giving it to someone who they dont know will be there next season.

by Skuba7 on Oct 5, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

"The Devils' Hexagon of Cluelessness is Complete"

Status quo.

by nyynygnjd on Oct 5, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

haha I’m looking forward to reading that

by KenKen on Oct 5, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Im sure he will go into conniptions about the Devils bringing Sykora back also. He will probable describe it as incest, oh wait…..he already used that one for the Devils…..

by Jacob Shepherd on Oct 5, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Far be it from him to ironically recycle material. The joke will be that he won’t get the joke.

by elesias on Oct 5, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Lou will be on NHL live today (5-7 pm)

In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils

by Matthew Ventolo on Oct 5, 2011 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

nhl live is a joke they’re interviewing the singer from that crappy 3 days grace band. I just want to hear what Lou’s gota’ say.

"Its the letter D"

by Rory B. Bellows on Oct 5, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

have they announced what time yet or has he been on already?

Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies

by joshd12 on Oct 5, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

cap·tain (kptn)
n.
1. Abbr. Capt. One who commands, leads, or guides others, especially:
a. The officer in command of a ship, an aircraft, or a spacecraft.
b. A precinct commander in a police or fire department, usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief.
c. The designated leader of a team or crew in sports.

I hope to join Claude Lemieux in Hell one day for a beer....

by HELLAWAITS on Oct 5, 2011 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

I dig it…well done, sir.

Onions are tougher than you. Onions make me cry. You couldn't make me cry. Onions are tougher than you.

by leed's 13th child on Oct 5, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Per TG, Devs played paintball yesterday and here is a quote:

"I had the best gun," Parise admitted. "I was sniping people."

No wonder he was named captain…

by Bobby V on Oct 5, 2011 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

As great as this news is, how many are truly surprised?
If Kovie was given the C over Parise, wouldn’t that have been a huge slap in the face.
I think more than a few of us would have rioted…or at least “occupied” the courtyard outside of the Rock.

Zach deserved it, Lou needs to make sure he stays in Jersey at least as long as Kovie, and let’s get this season started already! I still need to cleanse my palatte after last season. Hockey Sorbett, please.

Onions are tougher than you. Onions make me cry. You couldn't make me cry. Onions are tougher than you.

by leed's 13th child on Oct 5, 2011 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

If Kovie was given the C over Parise, wouldn’t that have been a huge slap in the face.

No, because Kovy DID serve as captain in Atlanta, so there shouldn’t have been a slight. Plus, I don’t think Zach is like that. He’d be happy for Kovy and content with his ‘A’.

Go Devils
Go Jets
Need to lose weight?

by FrankG929 on Oct 5, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Devils players may be ok with that, and many Devils fans too. But EVERYONE outside of those two circles would feed on the Captain Kovy news like it was their last meal. It would cause a serious distraction.

by Skuba7 on Oct 7, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

If someone should've been picked up...

Very good news, Zach will be a Devils for life hopefully….

"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"

by Elektrostal_Kid on Oct 5, 2011 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

I love the move. I couldn’t be happier about this move!
AND SO BEGINS A NEW ERA!

by NJGuy on Oct 5, 2011 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

Captain Zach, it works for me, as long as the captain does not abandon the S.S. NJHC. First captain with the number 9 since Kirk Muller.

by JerseyPatriot on Oct 5, 2011 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

Great news

Nuff said.

The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall. - Vince Lombardi

by Devilssection21fan on Oct 5, 2011 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

Clearly Steckel was the obvious choice. This is totally out of left field

by Mykey24 on Oct 5, 2011 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

Is it too late to give it to Cam Janssen instead?

Status quo.

by nyynygnjd on Oct 6, 2011 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

NICE!

my boi Zachy P gettin Cap-i-tan status! let’s go Devs! saturday can’t come soon enough!

by Nets2410 on Oct 6, 2011 9:52 PM EDT reply actions

Him?

That guy hardly got any ice time last year.

by Alan Wright on Oct 7, 2011 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly. He’s unproven. How do we know he will still be a good player? This is why Burnside thinks he won’t be with the Devils next year. I think he’s a genius.

by SatanicStickholders on Oct 7, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions