The Two Outcomes of the New Jersey Devils Filing for Team-Elected Arbitration with Zach Parise

by John Fischer on Jun 17, 2011 6:29 PM EDT in Devils Issues, Views & Analysis

It wasn't readily apparent at 5 PM EST, but it's now official. As confirmed on Twitter by Tom Gulitti, the New Jersey Devils did file for team-elected arbitration with Zach Parise today - the last possible date for a NHL team to do so. This means that no NHL team can give him an offer sheet. He is protected for this offseason, and the Devils don't have to make any difficult decisions over whether to match a massive contract they may not be able to afford.

There are two outcomes now. The first is the more worrisome: there is no contract and both Parise and the Devils go to an arbitration hearing to settle the matter. The two sides will argue their case, and a third party will make their decision for a one-year contract. Since it's team-elected, the Devils can't walk away from it. At a minimum, he will be a New Jersey Devil for the 2011-12 season. However, the arbitration process tends to wreck a player-team relationship; and those who get into a hearing with Lou aren't Devils for very long regardless of result.

Of course, the hearing won't take place for quite sometime. The first possible day for arbitration hearings are defined as July 20 in the CBA. The Devils have at least a little over a month to negotiate with Zach Parise on a contract. This is the second outcome: the Devils and Parise agree on contract prior to the arbitration hearing. This will eliminate the need for arbitration and could secure Zach Parise for longer than one season.

I believe this what both sides will shoot for based on what Gulitti has tweeted shortly after finding out the news. Lou Lamoriello told Gulitti that he doesn't want this to go to a hearing in this tweet; stated that he wants to have a long-term agreement for Parise in this tweet; and emphasized that this is just to keep other teams away from offer-sheeting him in this tweet. (Update Note #1: And just shortly after this post went up, Gulitti put all of those quotes into this post at Fire & Ice).

Lamoriello: "We'll continue toward getting a long-term agreement."

Lamoriello said this doesn't mean they are going to a hearing. "In fact, that's the last thing we would like to do," he said.

Lamoriello: "It's simply protecting the rights."

As for Parise's side, he wouldn't comment to Gulitti on the arbitration filing though Gulitti revealed on Twitter that discussions have begun. (Update Note #2: Per Gulitti's post on the news at Fire & Ice, Parise didn't think this was a big deal.)

Via e-mail, Parise declined comment. on the team filing for arbitration. He did confirm earlier that there have been "initial discussions."

The cynic in me would like to think that discussions are more than just "initial," but it really doesn't matter much now. The Devils and Parise's agents now have a deadline of sorts and that will drive them to make something happen before then. This isn't the first time Lou has been through this before. Travis Zajac filed for arbitration in 2009 and the two sides agreed to a deal before the hearing. The only difference this time is that the Devils did the filing and there's more time to make something happen. So don't freak out over this news; only freak out if there's no contract signed by the day of the arbitration hearing.

This news should not be surprising, this was discussed last Saturday as a real possibility. Now it's official. I will say that I was surprised that Lou was open enough to say that they'll work for a long term agreement bodes well in my opinion.

What do you think about what will happen next? Are you confident that a deal will be done before the arbitration hearing? Please leave your thoughts in the comments. Thanks to Tom Gulitti (@TGFireandIce) for getting the word out on Twitter as well as he does; and thanks to you for reading.

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There's a third possible outcome

and it’s the one I think is most likely to occur: Parise gets pissed, is only willing to sign a one year deal, and then walks after his contract is up.

Travis Zajac filed for arbitration in 2009 and the two sides agreed to a deal before the hearing. The only difference this time is that the Devils did the filing and there’s more time to make something happen. So don’t freak out over this news; only freak out if there’s no contract signed by the day of the arbitration hearing.

Well, you say that “the only difference this time is that the Devils did the filing and there’s more time to make something happen.” The first difference there makes this situation completely different from Zajac’s, and it renders the comparison meaningless.

Why? Well, if I was Parise, I would be pretty angry that Lou did this and said out loud for the whole world to see: “It’s simply protecting the rights.” He’s actually admitting to Parise that he is using a loophole to keep Parise from possibly doing what Parise wants to do.

That’s basically saying, “hey, we really want you back, but we’re afraid that someone will offer you even more than we’re willing to give you.” Alternatively, it could be interpreted wrongly by Parise as “we’re afraid that someone will think you’re more valuable than we do,” and I say this interpretation would be wrong because I think it would be about cap constraints, not what Lou perceives as Parise’s ultimate value to the organization.

After that, Parise might see this as Lou saying, “well, since we don’t want to have to pay too much for your services, we’re going to use a loophole to ensure that you don’t get to entertain offers from anyone else. Sorry pal, you may even want more money or a different team, but you’re not getting either because I’m going to use a tactic to keep you from getting the most you can get. Sure, you’re a hockey player and this is your job, but that doesn’t mean you get to choose the employer who gives you the highest salary or makes you the happiest! You’re mine, whether you like it or not.”

Keep in mind that this is what my interpretation would be if I was Parise. But, frankly, my interpretation as the person I am is pretty close, the only difference being that I wouldn’t take it quite as far as I did above.

Anyway, I guess my point is that I think Parise will resent this and won’t give us any more than one year. Hopefully, it will at least be a year where that resentment isn’t evident on the ice or in the locker room.

Now, maybe Parise does want to be a Devil and he won’t care too much about this. However, considering all of his remarks throughout the season (especially the second half), he seemed indifferent to the prospect of staying here. That might or might not be a negotiating tactic, but I don’t know. But adding that to all of the possibilities I just listed above, it makes me lean toward believing that this third possible outcome is the most likely.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

Why? Well, if I was Parise, I would be pretty angry that Lou did this and said out loud for the whole world to see: "It’s simply protecting the rights." He’s actually admitting to Parise that he is using a loophole to keep Parise from possibly doing what Parise wants to do.

This might be true if the NHL and NHLPA were completely new and this was the first contract negotiation in the history of the league. Parise talks to other players, agents probably talk to other agents. This move is mostly to prevent any kind of impasse from resulting in either an offer sheet or a protracted negotiation. If Parise had had a good season, he’d be the one filing for arbitration, for similar reasons.

After that, Parise might see this as Lou saying, "well, since we don’t want to have to pay too much for your services, we’re going to use a loophole to ensure that you don’t get to entertain offers from anyone else. Sorry pal, you may even want more money or a different team, but you’re not getting either because I’m going to use a tactic to keep you from getting the most you can get. Sure, you’re a hockey player and this is your job, but that doesn’t mean you get to choose the employer who gives you the highest salary or makes you the happiest! You’re mine, whether you like it or not."

And again, this is the team’s right in the CBA. Lou didn’t invent a new rule. If Parise doesn’t like it, he can go to arbitration, and then leave next year. Or they can hammer out a long-term deal. This filing merely gives a deadline to the negotiations. If Parise signs an offer sheet, he’d almost certainly be staying here – Lou doesn’t want to negotiate against a team that might throw a monkey wrench into the entire process.

Now, maybe Parise does want to be a Devil and he won’t care too much about this. However, considering all of his remarks throughout the season (especially the second half), he seemed indifferent to the prospect of staying here. That might or might not be a negotiating tactic, but I don’t know. But adding that to all of the possibilities I just listed above, it makes me lean toward believing that this third possible outcome is the most likely.

Parise may want to leave, but how you’d get that impression from his public statements is beyond me. Parise commented like 9 hundred times in his interview with Gulitti that he wanted to stay here.

by Triumph44 on Jun 17, 2011 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Could you give me a link to that interview. I remember Gulitti making a lot of posts in the second half of the season and right after the season ended, offering quotes from Parise that were always along the lines of “New Jersey’s great and, well, we’ll see what happens.”

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

And you’re right, Lou didn’t invent a new rule (nor did I claim that he did), but that doesn’t mean that Parise won’t or even shouldn’t interpret it the way I think he might.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Welp haha, thankfully your not Parise… it was a good point on your part, a nice different perspective on the matter, but I would shy away from putting words in the guys mouth… that point is assuming that Parise is harboring some unseen and unheard negative resentment that I’d frankly assume isn’t the case until theres some proof

by 5th Shift on Jun 17, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m just saying that he could be harboring that after this happens, and that I think it’s a good possibility considering the situation as it stands now.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

i can’t find the quote, it might have been on twitter, or in the comments section. point is, it’s really odd for parise to do a 3 part ‘get to know you’ when he’s on his way out the door.

this is a business maneuver. if parise doesn’t understand that, like i said, he is not paying attention to the league. and again, if he had a good year, he’d be the one filing for arbitration.

by Triumph44 on Jun 17, 2011 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

fair enough

by 5th Shift on Jun 17, 2011 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to blow up your larger point, but this is the same as the second outcome. I never said the contract they would sign would be long term or one-year or anything. Just that one is signed. It is true the Devils (and presumably Parise’s agents) are seeking a long term deal.

Going to your main point: Parise and his agents would have to have some serious blinders on to be angry about this move by the Devils or interpret the way you have. He knew he was going into this season as a restricted free agent. Emphasis on the word “restricted.” Parise has little choice in who he wants to work for this summer. Any offer a team may want to make can be matched by the Devils; and it’s because of that matching option plus the potential compensation makes offer sheets an uncommon event anyway. If he wanted to play the market, then he’d sign a one year deal and go UFA in 2012.

Sure, Parise can resent this, but he’d have to be very ignorant of the world around him to be justified.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jun 17, 2011 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think you have to be ignorant. Business decisions are made all day every single day and are often resented, no matter how many times they have played out in the past. Saying “it’s just business” and “it happens all the time” don’t make it any better.

The fact that Parise’s choices would be limited because of restricted free agency doesn’t really matter. If this whole thing didn’t happen, he would (1) have the chance to make more money with another team, and (2) have the chance to have his salary from the Devils raised, perhaps very significantly, by the offer sheets of other teams. Do you see why this is different from what Lou has done? Even if the Devils have right of last refusal, the fact that teams can give Parise’s offer sheet gives him much more leverage with the Devils during negotiations and the chance to have his salary increased from whatever it might be after this situation plays out instead.

And remember, I’m just giving another possibility. I’m just saying that it can be interpreted this way. And honestly, the fact that it happens all the time doesn’t mean that Parise would be wrong in making this interpretation, but only that he would be going a bit too far. In the end, the reason teams do this is exactly what we’re talking about: to keep a player’s cost lower than it perhaps should be and to rope him in/restrict him more than he would be.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think you have to be ignorant. Business decisions are made all day every single day and are often resented, no matter how many times they have played out in the past. Saying "it’s just business" and "it happens all the time" don’t make it any better.

The options here are very obvious and limited, which is why it seems unlikely that the choice could be resented.

If this whole thing didn’t happen, he would (1) have the chance to make more money with another team, and (2) have the chance to have his salary from the Devils raised, perhaps very significantly, by the offer sheets of other teams. Do you see why this is different from what Lou has done? Even if the Devils have right of last refusal, the fact that teams can give Parise’s offer sheet gives him much more leverage with the Devils during negotiations and the chance to have his salary increased from whatever it might be after this situation plays out instead.

And how many offer sheets are signed each year? 1? 2? Vanek, Bernier, Backes, Hjalmarsson, Kesler. Those are the 5 I can remember since the lockout. None of these players were 1 year away from UFA like Parise. Going to team-elected arbitration would likely be negotiating in bad faith, but so too is signing an offer sheet. And if Parise wants to leave, he’d be an idiot to sign an offer sheet.

by Triumph44 on Jun 17, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

And how many offer sheets are signed each year? 1? 2? Vanek, Bernier, Backes, Hjalmarsson, Kesler. Those are the 5 I can remember since the lockout. None of these players were 1 year away from UFA like Parise. Going to team-elected arbitration would likely be negotiating in bad faith, but so too is signing an offer sheet. And if Parise wants to leave, he’d be an idiot to sign an offer sheet.

That’s why I said:

If this whole thing didn’t happen, he would (1) have the chance to make more money with another team, and (2) have the chance to have his salary from the Devils raised, perhaps very significantly, by the offer sheets of other teams</strong>.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

So it doesn’t matter how many people have signed offer sheets. If you want to point to something like that, it matters how many people have received offer sheets higher than what their team was originally going to pay them. I imagine there would be quite a few of those. I mean, the whole point of my post was that this could be resented because Lou it can be seen as Lou trying to save money by further restricting Parise, and possibly/likely giving him less because he knows teams will beat the money he wants to give him.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

i can assure you that players who are eligible to receive offer sheets receive less money than all other free agents.

it was already unlikely that anyone would offer sheet him, for reasons that have been made clear on this site for a year now. why would you offer sheet a player you can get for free in a year?

by Triumph44 on Jun 17, 2011 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

“i can assure you that players who are eligible to receive offer sheets receive less money than all other free agents.”

You’re doing the same thing again. Who is comparing restricted free agents to unrestricted free agents? I haven’t said a single thing about that. I don’t think I need you to assure me that unrestricted free agents get more money. What I have said is that any offer sheet above what the Devils want to pay him would push up his salary. Don’t you think even $500,000 is a lot of money? I don’t think I could have been clearer. I even put the word “further” in “further restricting” in bold above. If you want to argue about whether it’s enough restriction to justify this interpretation or whatever, that would be addressing what I’ve actually said.

As for your second point, why would Lou do this and even risk any animosity when teams are unlikely to give Parise offer sheets? The point of this whole thing is that he’s worried Parise’s price could be pushed up and instead he is protecting the team from having to pay more than they might end up paying.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 17, 2011 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions

As for your second point, why would Lou do this and even risk any animosity when teams are unlikely to give Parise offer sheets? The point of this whole thing is that he’s worried Parise’s price could be pushed up and instead he is protecting the team from having to pay more than they might end up paying.

I disagree. He is putting an endpoint on negotiations – both sides have to reach an agreement by that date, or else they will go to arbitration. We know that Lou is good at arbitration, so I don’t think Parise would come out of that too happy. The point is that arbitration is a risk for both sides that is quite possibly the worst option for both.

Neither side is naive – both know what he could receive on the open market.

by Triumph44 on Jun 17, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

What? How does putting an endpoint on negotiations, after which they would go to arbitration, negate the fact that there is a good chance his salary would have been greater than it will be if Lou allowed him to get offer sheets?

More importantly, how do you interpret this:

Lamoriello said this doesn’t mean they are going to a hearing. “In fact, that’s the last thing we would like to do,” he said.

Lamoriello: “It’s simply protecting the rights.”

Protecting the rights from what, if not offer sheets? What else is he protecting the rights from?

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 18, 2011 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Protecting the rights from what, if not offer sheets? What else is he protecting the rights from?

Nothing else. Remember that Zach Parise is a restricted free agent. He doesn’t have the same rights as an unrestricted free agent. There are only three ways he can go play for a different NHL team. The first is a trade, which isn’t happening right now. The second is that the Devils don’t qualify him by the deadline and Parise becomes an UFA, which also isn’t going to happen. The third is that Parise signs an offer sheet from another team and the Devils don’t match it.

This move protects him from the only outside influence on these negotiations: the offer sheet. Which is an unlikely proposition in general and if you figure that Parise is going to get a significant amount of money regardless, then there are not a lot of teams that have the cap space, budget space, and/or compensatory draft picks to provide an offer sheet.

The windmill is just that – a windmill.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jun 18, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I personally think you are reading way to much into this. I’m sure Zach is well advised and pretty much has a clear cut idea on what his options are and likely out comes.

Zach knows he is going to have a contract. He is going to be playing hockey most likely for the Devils next season. He really doesn’t have any control over it. So why in the world would you be mad?

There aren’t even that many teams that have the cap space to offer him some giant contract. As noted in a post on this site a few weeks ago. Plus the Devils are likely to match what offers do come his way.

…If I was Zach I would be more concerned about my knee and getting ready for the season right now then being upset over the Devils taking me to arbitration.

Now…Maybe Zach doesn’t want or is not sure he wants to spend that much longer playing for the Devils. It may not have anything to even do with Lou or the team. He just might not like living in New Jersey. Then if you where in his shoes what would you do? Specially coming off a lost year to injury?

Do you settle for a one year deal because you want out? What if your knee isn’t back to normal or you have a set back? If I was him I would sign a multi-year not super long keeping me stuck here. But long enough to secure myself just in-case I get hurt again.

by NJDOhio on Jun 17, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

This is different from the others

Honestly, I think this is very different from Holik, who was a 3rd line center who wanted 1st line money. This is a player the Devils are probably having a hard time determining the value of. Zach is a supreme talent, a top 10 NHL forward, who had a devastating injury that I’m still convinced we don’t know everything about. It was probably worse than they led us to believe. I honestly think the Devils did this to protect themselves and get Zach a long term deal without having to match an insane offer that would most definitely come from a team that needs a scorer and a face of the franchise. If it comes down to a hearing, I imagine the arguments will be something along the lines of, “We’d love to sing him long term, but we just can’t agree on a number because since the injury we haven’t had a chance to kick the tires.” But Zach is going to be here for a long, long time.

by Dischinabox on Jun 17, 2011 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

I highly doubt Lou would want to have this dragged out for a month. I would be shocked if he isn’t signed by July 1st at the latest.

by C.J. Richey on Jun 17, 2011 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

I really don’t see option one happening at this point. The fact that talks are underway between Parise’s agents and the Devils leads me to believe this will be done sooner rather than later. Lou seems committed to keeping Zach here and I’’m confident he will do what it takes to make that happen.

Keep in mind that Zach would be taking a bit of a risk to sign a one-year deal. As we saw this past year, injuries are not out of the realm of possibility for anyone. Sure he could fetch a little more money for himself if he has a big year, but how much more is he really going to get, especially with some labor uncertainty upcoming next summer (read: possible salary cap rollback). If the Devils throw 10yrs/$65-70 million on the table, is he really going to turn that down?

Status quo.

by nyynygnjd on Jun 17, 2011 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

by NJDOhio on Jun 17, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

He will be signed before the hearing. I’m saying this because if I’m Zach I want more then a one year deal and I’m not going to like a arbitrator decide that part. coming off a major injury I’d want more then one year.

by NJDOhio on Jun 17, 2011 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

RE

I believe this is a very shrewd move by Lou. No matter what happens, the team ultimately wins. As stated Parise is coming off of a season in which he was injured, and next years labor talks still loom. If no other team can sign him, it is in his best interests to make a long term deal with the Devils. And even if he is pissed and only wants a one year deal, the Devils can than negotiate a trade with another team during the season and get a player of very high value in return… Like a #1 defenseman. But with labor talks looming, I think it is most likely he takes the long term deal to ensure stability and financial security. God only knows what the next nhl/nhlpa agreement will look like. But something tells that the nhl is going to try go even farther to reduce contracts that keep the cap hit artificially low by tacking on years near the end of a contract with much lower pay than the beginning years.

by JerzeeD on Jun 17, 2011 10:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

option #4 he moves to Russia to play in the KHL
option #5 he quits hockeys
jk Parise will be a devil for a very long time because he wants a ring!

by ALECDK on Jun 17, 2011 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

reading minds

Dr. Witticism , look up the “false consensus bias”. you can’t read zach’s mind and he doesn’t think like you do. he is a professional hockey player with professional agents. people keep inventing reasons why he would throw a hissy fit and leave, all attributed to “how lou treats him”. it’s safe to say he has a completely unique set of principles and expectations as a professional than people on blogs who are worried about his feelings- something i’m sure lou, as a professional, takes into account. he’s been around for quite a long time. he’s definitely told zach and his agents what he’s done from a business perspective, and throwing in intangible emotional issues that can’t be proved doesn’t accomplish much. he’s said multiple times he wants to stay, you kind of have to take his word at that, not project what you would do in his situation- he’s the one in the situation, not you.

by dptox86 on Jun 18, 2011 3:07 AM EDT reply actions

So then why talk about predictions for anything, ever? I mean, we’re never in the situation, we don’t know how the guys in the situation really feel, so let’s all just stop speculating on everything even though it’s what we do, it’s fun, and it’s interesting to debate. And don’t act like Lou has never made a mistake. This could be one in a long line…like any other professional. Maybe you should admit that you also don’t know any more about this situation than anyone else outside the organization.

Oh, and that word “interpretation” means a way of perceiving something. You know, a possible way to see it. A possibility. You know…like a thing that might or might not happen, not that you’re saying will happen with complete and total certainty.

by Dr. Witticism on Jun 18, 2011 6:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the fact that when you put yourself “In Zach’s shoes” having your mind automatically go to this interpretation of how you see things playing out… an elaborate scenario full of bitterness and hurt feelings says way more about your own personality than any of the actual parties involved.

While I can not attest with 100% certainty anything of what’s going on in Parise’s mind, my first thought when hearing the news wasn’t “Damnit! I bet he’s pissed off because now he can’t sign that $100 million 12 year offer sheet from the Panthers.”

He’s a professional athlete. There is nothing sinister or unexpected from his team exercising their rights to block another team from snagging him away.

by Zelepukin on Jun 18, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you need to lighten up.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jun 18, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

well, you seem so sure about how this is going to turn out. is it fun to say that the guy who a lot of people think are the heart and soul of this team that “oh this guy’s feelings are hurt, he’s going to leave he hates this team now”. i get the point of talking about drafts and trades, but saying an organization is inept to handle one of its employees properly in a respectful manner, and sounding so sure that this is the most likely outcome over any possibility, doesn’t seem like speculation. it sounds like trying to put nails in an imaginary coffin.
i don’t believe i’m acting like lou has never made a mistake; only that he’s signed more players than he has ever let go.
you’re right, i don’t know any more about the situation than most others. i’m not sure where i seemed to have claimed that i did- but you know that you don’t know the situation either, right? and also, that you can’t read people’s minds?

by dptox86 on Jun 18, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

i have never heard of the phrase ‘false consensus bias’, but i’m sure i will annoy people around here with its use in the future.

there’s a segment of the fanbase that thinks lou is a dinosauric bumbler who can’t function in 21st century sports. i don’t quite understand it and i don’t think it’s true.

by Triumph44 on Jun 18, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah sorry, psych major. it’s basically thinking that everyone thinks the same way you do, when in fact they don’t. it’s so rampant with sports fans, because they constantly try to predict what players or management will do when they’re no where near the situation the professionals are in. for example, he’ll take less money, his feelings are hurt, the coach didn’t play me because he’s corrupt or whatever….people say “well that’s what i would do” and think everyone else would do the same thing. it’s a huge problem why people don’t understand other cultures and sets of values and part of how stereotyping occurs.

by dptox86 on Jun 18, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully it won’t go to a hearing but if it does then ZP won’t be in a Devs uni for long. Lou has the hammer now and if negotiations don’t go well I can see ZP getting peeved about this especially when Kovy got his for the next five generations of Kovys.

I know ZP is a good guy but hes only human and last year had to be frustrating on so many levels and now this. My gut feel on this is ZP will no longer be a Dev, but theres no way they let him just walk free next year and hes traded at some point.

by 68devils on Jun 18, 2011 5:27 AM EDT reply actions

Long term contracts take a while to structure in a way that is beneficial to the club and the player.

Given last year’s shenanigans and the subsequent clarification and definition of long term contracts, I expect the soon-to-be signed contract to be either 1) just long enough to get him to a 35 threshhold, even though one might not exist in the next CBA or it might be a different age, or 2) the last contract he ever sees in the NHL.

This news makes me happy since the Devs won’t be forced to choose between Zach and roster viability when an offer sheet arrives.

The question is not how far. The question is, do you possess the constitution, the depth of faith, to go as far as is needed? - Il Duce

by Murdoc on Jun 18, 2011 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

This is my feeling on it. Removing the possibility of offer sheets means that their (hopefully) hard work crafting a long-term deal beneficial to both sides isn’t thrown off by another team dropping a large offer sheet with less friendly terms the Devils have to match.

The question in my mind is: why not have the deal in place before it reached this point and avoid the situation entirely? By all accounts, minimal as they have been, negotiations have been put off until very recently but they’ve had two months since the Devils season ended to have put everything together.

"I have an opinion and I know you have an answer, but in all honesty if you don’t know then don’t reply, because my opinion will always be better than your answer….and if you agree then highlight your response unless you don’t know."

by elesias on Jun 18, 2011 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude c’mon? You know why… The blockbuster McIntyre tor Noreau trade!

by Zelepukin on Jun 18, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

the team is being sold, and i imagine lou is involved with that.

the draft is coming up, and i imagine lou is involved with that.

who knows what other tasks lou has. all i know is that very few teams have signed RFA contracts yet after the regular season ended, and certainly nothing on the magnitude of parise’s deal has been completed.

by Triumph44 on Jun 18, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

and the poster below notes that the salary cap number is really important too, especially to the devils who don’t have a lot of $ to spare.

by Triumph44 on Jun 18, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Are GMs typically involved in things like team sales? I honestly have no idea and wouldn’t have guessed that they were unless they had an ownership stake.

All good points though. The salary cap is what I imagine is the biggest contributor to the delay.

by elesias on Jun 18, 2011 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Are GMs typically involved in things like team sales? I honestly have no idea and wouldn’t have guessed that they were unless they had an ownership stake.

Lou is also the team president. I dunno, I can’t see him not being involved to some degree. I believe Lou had an ownership stake under McMullen and YankeeNets but he may have sold in the interim – I can’t imagine he holds a stake in either of these parties.

by Triumph44 on Jun 18, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I have to say, I think part of it is theyre waiting for the salary cap to be cemented. Daly said it could be as low as 60.5, or as high as 63 something. Thats a significant range for a team thats right at the cap. Sure, we project it at 63 million, and it most likely will be. But if it isnt, then that kinda throws a wrench in it.

Injury or not, hell likely get a raise. We know his cap hit was 3 and change last year, but his salary was actually 5. Earlier years in his contract lowered it. So raise or not, his cap hit is going to be higher.

by Chris Calabrese on Jun 18, 2011 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

Hypothetical situation..not trolling.

If Parise does get to arbitration and the Devils want to trade him (to get max value). What would y’all want from the Predators (excluding the core of Weber, Suter, and Rinne) to make the deal happen? I’m talking a serious deal, not like 6 players or 6 1st rounders or anything silly.

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on Jun 19, 2011 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

Not including Weber Suter or Rinne? …Well that makes it kinda hard. Not sure a deal would happen without one of those.

But for fun, I would have to say at least Martin Erat + Picks or a prospect.

But frankly I wouldn’t make that deal. Parise for Weber. Call it done.

by NJDOhio on Jun 19, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm, Erat + Ryan Ellis? I’d do that.

While, on paper, Parise for Weber would be a fair trade – I’m not sure it would be good for either of our teams. It’s essentially a talent push, and fans might not be happy.

Then again, we have a lot of defensive talent and Rinne and could get by without Weber. It would be interesting, but would never happen because it’s easier for the GMs to stand pat.

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on Jun 19, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I would have to guess that nothing would (hypothetically) get off the ground to move Parise unless one of the aforementioned 3 were involved.

by Skuba7 on Jun 20, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, thinking about it (and with discussion of what all three would cost the Predators). I’d do Rinne for Parise straight up. That way you’d have a kick-ass goalie lineage from Brodeur to Rinne and we’d have the prime scorer we need without angering too many fans.

I like Rinne a lot, he’s my favorite player. But I have faith in GMDP and Mitch Korn to crank out another great goaltender for us.

"My, my, here's one for the (no) neck. Don't relax, 'cause you're next for the check!"

by DonBorvio on Jun 20, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions