Everybody wants Zach

CBS New York

Former Fighting Sioux and current New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise is going to be one of the most sought after free agents in some time. Parise is going to be able to command a very hefty raise this summer and there are going to be teams lined up to pay him that hefty salary.

Jim Matheson, edmontonjournal.com --- Has there been a hotter ticket than New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise on the free-agent stage in the last 10 years?

You can see how badly he wants to win, the pistons pumping as he hunts down a loose puck in the neutral zone and sends it into the open net to ensure the Game 5 win for the Devils at Madison Square Garden.

He’s the engine that drives the Devils, with due respect to the big wheel Ilya Kovalchuk, who is much better than I thought he’d ever be when they gave him that lifetime contract as a free agent.

But how can there be room for both players next season and beyond when the Devils ownership is an absolute mess and Parise can easily get $8 million US on the open market?

The Devils have no wiggle room because Elias ($6 million) and Dainius Zubrus ($3.4 million) aren’t unrestricted free agents until July 2013, the same with Marek Zidlicky on defence.

There are four scenarios: Parise stays in New Jersey; he goes to Detroit, where the Red Wings will sell him on playing with Pavel Datsyuk, he slides over to the New York Rangers; or Parise, who turns 28 in July, goes home to suit up for the Minnesota Wild.

One can only speculate where Parise going after the July 1st when free agent can begin signing contracts with other clubs. You can bet that the Wild are going to be in the running and Michael Russo has basically stated that the Wild will give him the money he wants if he decided to come to Minnesota. With all of the young recruits in the pipeline ready to step up for the Wild this “might” be enough to convinced Parise to say yes to the Minnesota Wild. Or not! I guess we will find out around July, 1st?

In Minnesota, the citizenry are awash with expectations that Parise might want to come home. His dad, J.P., runs the hockey program at the exclusive Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school and Parise’s girlfriend is from North Dakota and one of J.P.’s best friends is former North Stars GM Lou Nanne, who holds significant sway in that area. But then again, plenty of NHLers don’t want the pressure of playing before friends and family.

Please Zach come to the state of hockey…

Parise and Zajac never played together at UND

NJ.COM

This seems to be a common historical point of discussion – but incorrect – while it’s true that Zach Parise and Travis Zajac both played their collegiate hockey for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Parise and Zajac never played together. It never happened; this could be cleared up by doing a simple search on Google. So it would be impossible for them to have developed chemistry at UND.

Parise was a member of the Fighting Sioux hockey team from 2002-04, Zajac arrived at UND in the fall of 2004 and played two season at UND as well, 2004-2006.

Larry Wigge --- Travis Zajac and Zach Parise go together like two peas in a pod.

They are center and winger, both from the University of North Dakota. Both worked well together there, so why not in the NHL. They feed off one another.

Zajac is the straw that stirs the drink and prefers to stay in the background to Parise's star status.

The secret is out, Zajac is a star too.

For much of the 2011-12 season, Zajac was a lost man ... a player without a team.

Related articles

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• Parise and Zajac never played together at UND

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Henrik Lundquist stuffs Ilya Kovalchuk

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been nothing short of amazing during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and this was no different this past Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

Check out this amazing save by the All-World goalie Henrik Lundqvist as he stopped a Ilya Kovalchuk breakaway attempt with the game score still tied at 0-0. It's saves like this on on Kovy that helps make Lundquist's case for why he deserves the Hart Trophy.

I also think that Henrik Lunquist could be in the running along with Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

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• Watch Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist show you how great goaltending is done

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Tortorella Responds To “Headhunter” Charge From DeBoer

John Tortorella (Photo credit: Robert Kowal)

It looks like the smug one; New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella can actually say more than 36 words during a press conference, albeit this was a pregame press conference. This is what Torts had to say about the Prust hit as well as what he thought about the New Jersey Devils. There seems to be no love lost between these two teams.

Dave Lozo, NHL.com --- On Sunday, Rangers coach John Tortorella responded to that comment by defending Prust and accusing the Devils of embellishing calls and setting illegal picks during their power plays.

"He's probably one of the most honest players," Tortorella said, before launching into a a big chunk of gamesmanship. "I look at (Dainius Zubrus') elbow to (Anton) Stralman. I look at (Zach) Parise launching himself at (Michael) Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stay down on the ice, we'll get something. We tell our players don't stay down on the ice, get up.

"The picking on the power play. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I've got a long list here. That's a set play by Jersey -- picking so we can't get to (Ilya) Kovalchuk to block his shot. There's some gamesmanship right there, huh?"

Related articles

• John Tortorella Rips Devils: Rangers Coach Defends Brandon Prust, Takes Shot At New Jersey (VIDEO)

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• Tortorella takes shots at Devils, defends Prust

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• Tortorella takes shots at Devils, defends Prust

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Claude Giroux hit on Dainius Zubrus

Here is the latest hit in the NHL that should receive some scrutiny - and the player in question deserves to  miss a game or two because of a suspension - or at least receive a fine. That being said, I would be very surprised if there is a suspension because Claude Giroux is considered an up and coming star players and Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Safety doesn't like to suspend star players.

There is no way that Flyers fans can defend Claude Giroux's hit on New Jersey Devils forward Dainius Zubrus, this is a dangerous and dirty hit. In my opinion this hit in question a violation of rule 48. Giroux was given a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head and he should have been given a game misconduct. This is the type of hits that the NHL is trying to do with and Giroux missed four games back in December for a concussion himself.

Zach Parise's waved off goal.

So did former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise score a legitimate goal or not? In reviewing the video it looks like the refs "may" have made the right call.  What do you think? Did the ref make the right call, or not? Why?

It's official Thrashers to Winnipeg

Illegal Curve

The NHL will officially will now only be about 150 miles from Grand Forks, ND. I believe one reader told me I was out of touch and delusional if I thought that the NHL would make it's return to Winnipeg, Manitoba. I guess I wasn't delusional after all. The vote to move the Thrashers to Winnipeg was unanimous as well. For all of you're Jets news visit the Illegal Curve blog.

NEW YORK (AP) —Don Waddell has been through it all with the Atlanta Thrashers since they entered the NHL in 1999.

From general manager to coach to team president, Waddell endured the ups and downs—mostly downs—as the franchise struggled on and off the ice.

After 13 years and only one playoff appearance that produced no wins, Tuesday was the day for Waddell and Atlanta to finally say goodbye to its second hockey team.

The NHL board of governors unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Tuesday, clearing the final big hurdle in the process.

“We’ve been through the emotions and the frustrations the last few weeks, but when I look back and being there 13 years, it’s been a great run,” said Waddell, who served as general manager from the start until the 2009-10 season. “Since ’98 when I got hired, there are only four general managers that are currently with their teams.

“You’ve got to look at the positives. To be able to stay in one place for so long, it’s been tremendous for me.”

The same can’t be said of the team that once featured star players such as Dany Heatley(notes) and Ilya Kovalchuk(notes) and Marian Hossa(notes), but couldn’t keep them for one reason or another.

True North Sports and Entertainment bought the team last month and announced it was bringing the Thrashers to Winnipeg, which lost the Jets to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season.

“Obviously, everybody is sorry and distressed and unhappy that we found ourselves in the circumstance where our franchise was leaving Atlanta,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We’re particularly sorry for the fans that are there, but obviously based on the reception that we’ve gotten, everybody is extremely excited about the opportunities in Winnipeg for our return.”

102 million dollar fail - Kovy shoot out fail

I added this one for Sioux7 as he is a unapologetic New Jersey Devils fan. Check out this Ilya Kovalchuk's horrid attempt on the shootout tonight, I think we can classify this one as an #epic fail.

Tale of Two Goaltenders: One stops Goals, the other Stops Dreams

Recently, three things happened in the NHL:

1. Kovalchuk finally signed with the Devils. Yawn.

2. Antti Niemi signs with the San Jose Sharks

3. Carey Price Gouged the Canadiens.

#1: Who cares. At least it is finally over. Now the Devils can start dismantling other key assets to try to make cap space. Probably Salvador, Rolston, and who cares. The only weird rumors revolve around Travis Zajac and Zach Parise. One rumor is that the Devils will try to trade or waive Zajac. That's ridiculous because he's much better than Rolston and younger to boot. The other is more plausible. Kovalchuk's signing may mean the end of the Parise era in NJ once Zach's contract is up.

#2: You can just hear Antero Niiitttiiimaaaakiiiii collapse in somewhat sad state. On one hand, Antero's gonna make some $$$ sitting on the bench. On the other hand, he comes skipping into Southern California singing "Zippadedoo dah!! Zippedi-AY! I finally get the #1 job hoo-ray!" only to have Niemi rain on his parade. So, oh well. At least most fans won't have to guess how many double vowels Antero's last name has. It's obvious I'm beyond caring. The only thing I don't understand is this: Niemi signs for 1 year, $2 million. If he offered that kind of a contract to Chicago, do you think they would have walked away? Admittedly, it's only $750K less than the arbitrator awarded him but it could have made a difference.

#3: Carey Price signed a 2 year, $5.5 million contract with the Canadiens. Wow. Hopefully that's $5.5 million in Canadian currency otherwise, the Habs seriously overpaid. Price is only Right when it amounts to about $1.5 million a year. The only positive Price brings to the table is his age. He's young. He could turn into a good goaltender someday... but he has to mature yet. Something he's shown time and time again that it's not possible. The good news for the Habs is that they didn't pull a Huet and signed Price long term. There is NO WAY IN HELL Price is worth as much as Halak is getting in St. Louis or what Niemi would have gotten in Chicago had Chicago not walked away. NO WAY.

It's a sad day when all Niemi can get is $2 million over 1 year and the most overrated goaltender in the NHL gets $2.75 million each year for 2 years.

Kovalchuk deal OK'd by NHL, NHLPA

While the holiday weekend was taking place the NHL finally approved Ilya Kovalchuk's contract. Yippy Skippy. Now the Devils have to figure out how they are going to fit Kovalchuk's salary in under the 59 million dollar cap. I can see a few players from New Jersey getting traded soon.

CBC Sports --- Ilya Kovalchuk's contract ordeal is over.

The NHL and NHLPA have reached an agreement to revise the rules that regulate long-term contracts as part of a global settlement on Friday, allowing Kovalchuk's contract with the New Jersey Devils to pass.

Jay Grossman, Kovalchuk's agent, confirmed the news in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Both parties agreed to extend the 5 p.m. ET deadline in order to complete the formal paperwork, which was finished in the early Saturday morning hours according to a report on NHL.com.

The agreement means Kovalchuk's revised 15-year, $100-million US contract with the New Jersey Devils will be approved by the league.

The agreement comes after more than a month of disputes between all parties. Kovalchuk agreed to a monstrous 17-year, $102-million deal with the Devils on July 19.

The NHL quickly moved to reject the contract, claiming it circumvented the league's salary cap. An arbitrator upheld that decision on Aug. 9 after the union filed a grievance on July 26 in response to the league's rejection.

The new deal will put a $6.67-million annual hit on the Devils' salary cap and put the team roughly $3 million over the league limit ($59.4 million) with only 21 players under contract, two under the league limit.
[Read the whole article]

NHL to approve latest Ilya Kovalchuk contract

This would be really good news for the NHL and it's fans and it's about time that Kovalchuck drama came to end... It will be interesting to see what the terms are now.

The Hockey News --- According to a report from Dmitry Chesnokov on Yahoo hockey blog Puck Daddy, the latest contract proposal between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils will be approved by the NHL.
However, when contacted by THN.com, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly simply replied “Not true.”

Kovalchuk signed a 17-year, $102-million deal with the Devils July 19, but the contract was rejected by the league on the grounds it circumvented the salary cap. After the NHLPA filed a grievance, the two sides went to an arbitrator, who ruled in favor of the league in early August.

Chesnokov had also reported Kovalchuk’s agent had given the NHL a 48-hour window to approve a deal with the Devils before they would start looking at other options, namely the Kontinental League.

Kovalchuk a free agent after arbitrator ruling

The Kovalchuck drama continues after the arbitrator Richard Bloch ruled in favor of the NHL. It will be interesting to see how long this drama plays out and where Kovy ends up.

NHL.COM ---
Ilya Kovalchuk is once again an unrestricted free agent as systems arbitrator Richard Bloch has determined the NHL was within its legal right to reject the 17-year, $102 million contract Kovalchuk signed with the New Jersey Devils in July.

Bloch heard arguments from both the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, which filed a grievance on Kovalchuk's behalf, over two days in Boston last week. His decision came late Monday afternoon. As a result of Bloch's ruling, Kovalchuk immediately returns to unrestricted free agent status.

Upon announcing the contract was rejected, NHL Deputy Commissioner said the League would not approve it because it was a "circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement."

The Devils can choose to re-work the contract in hopes of getting it approved, or Kovalchuk could look elsewhere.

NHL set for Ilya Kovalchuk hearing

Today is the big day. Anyone want to lay odds that the arbitrator rules in favor of Ilya Kovalchuk? It would be nice to get never ending saga/drama over.

If, as expected, arbitrator Richard Bloch rules in favor of Kovalchuk, perhaps as late as Monday, his contract will be immediately validated. But then the Devils will have to find a way to shed some $5-6 million in salary-cap liability by season's start to get under the $59.4 million lid and still have wiggle room for injuries.

Vital players would have to go, perhaps among Bryce Salvador, Colin White and Dainius Zubrus, either by trade or waiver/demotion.

Most important, such a verdict would validate heavily front-loaded contracts that the NHL claim circumvent the CBA, and become a major NHL demand for the next pact.

Should Bloch back the NHL and find that the contract is indeed an end-run around the CBA, Kovalchuk would again become an unrestricted free agent, and teams like the Kings and Rangers, as well as the Devils, would again be able to bid for his services in a more straight-forward salary arrangement.

Although it appears unlikely, the NHL then also would have the option of initiating its own punitive action against Kovalchuk and the Devils. A circumvention ruling off a league-filed action could cost the Devils $1.5 million in fines, with a similar amount deducted from their cap limit. Kovalchuk himself could be liable to a fine of $250,000-$1 million.
[Read more]

Meh Free Agency News (RW77)

Ok, this free agency period is really really boring. I was hoping for more excitement, perhaps some movement. But, alas, it's just another typical off season.

There was some tidbits of news:

The NY Rangers are close to signing Frolov. This guy isn't anything special anymore. He was pretty dynamic pre-NHL and his rookie year. I thought he'd be an Anze Kopitar or an Alexander Semin type. Instead, his offensive production has decreased consistently the past 3 years. It will be interesting to see how he could possibly succeed in underachieving even worse than he did before. Then again, he's in the second best team to accomplish this feat as a forward (only Montreal's forwards can underachieve more).

Aron Aasham (sp?) is trying to return to Philly. The question is: Has Aasham reappeared yet from his Copperfield impersonation during the postseason?

Mason Raymond has done good. He just signed a 2 year contract with the Canucks. I knew he was good with tUMD and I think he may be the best recruit Sandelin ever got with the Bulldogs, imo.

Oh, and the only bit of excitement is more like a soap opera with bad acting. The Player's Association has filed a grievance on Kovalchuk's contract denial. The problem is, the PA is like Forest Griffin without any muscle or skill. Just a monkey looking posturing punch line thanks to the fact that they have no real head of the NHLPA and therefore, no real direction.

Here's another tidbit: Today Nashville signed D Ryan Parent to a 2 year deal. He was traded (back) to Nashville from Philadelphia for Hamhuis. Good news, Philly fans! He didn't sign with Philly! (SARCASM). So, in essence, Philadelphia traded Parent for cap room... or nothing, whichever.

Life is so slow that NHL.com put up a story on Zetterberg's wedding. Seriously, good for the man. He married a model. No big deal. May they swim in 1 million fjords in perfect bliss and happiness.

DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!

NHL says not so fast on Kovalchuk's contract.

A person asked me on Twitter yesterday what I thought of the Ilya Kovalchuk's contract. I said, ‘I bet the NHL looks at Kovy's deal.’ Apparently, that was a good prediction as the league has rejected the Kovalchuk’s contract. This was also confirmed by Fire and Ice.

Tuesday night REJECTION: The NHL has rejected the Kovalchuk contract for salary-cap circumvention. The Devils have declined comment, but now this gets interesting. As I outlined below Monday, the intent of this contract was clear, but it seemed to me to be legal under the laws of the CBA. There is a provision in the CBA, however, that prohibits teams from circumventing the intent of the rules.

Where does this go from here? Humorously, the league waited to make its decision well after the theater of the news conference earlier today.

The problem that I see is the league allowed numerous other contracts that were similar in intent, from Chris Pronger to Roberto Luongo. The league has warned teams that if they continued to construct contracts like this, there would be consequences. This is a clear message by the NHL, but I see a little duel on the horizon. [Russo's Rants]

Drama queen Ilya Kovalchuk staying with Devils...

It's about fricken time. Finally, the drama queen Lebron James Ilya Kovalchuk has signed a contract with the New Jersey Devils. Now that Kovalchuk is going to sign with the New Jersey Devils, you have to wonder how the heck the New Jersey Devils are going to find cap space to sign former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise next season? The Devils are probably going to have to trade players on this season’s roster to make room for Kovalchuk. Now that this block buster signing is over other teams can move forward with their free agency moves.

The waiting is finally over.

Left wing Ilya Kovalchuk has decided to re-sign with the Devils, his agent, the team announced this morning.

The team will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Prudential Center to make the official announcement.

No contract details were available, initially. Ilya’s excited to be continuing his career with New Jersey and knows first-hand the team’s dedication and commitment to winning,” Kovalchuk’s agent Jay Grossman said in a release posted on his agency’s website.

Kovalchuk, 27, had been an unrestricted free agent since noon on July 1. The Devils acquired Kovalchuk, a two-time 52-goal scorer, from Atlanta on Feb. 4 (along with defenseman Anssi Salmela) for defenseman Johnny Oduya, right wing Niclas Bergors, prospect Patrice Cormier and the Devils’ 2010 first-round draft pick.

Assuming Kovlachuk’s salary is for more than $3.5 million – he made $7.5 million last season– the Devils will have to move players to get under the $59.4 million salary cap before the start of the regular season. Teams can go as high as 10 percent over the cap until the start of the regular season.
[Fire and Ice]

Links to the Story

Ilya Kovalchuk signs with Devils [NJ.COM]

Kovalchuk, Devils agree to deal [ESPN.COM]

Done Deal-ya: Kovalchuk returns [devils.nhl.com]

BREAKING: Ilya Kovalchuk Re-Signs with the New Jersey Devils [inlouwetrust.com]

Kovalchuk's decision: He's a New Jersey Devil again [Puck Daddy]

Kovalchuk inks deal with the Devils [Globe and Mail]

Kovalchuk deals with the Devils [CBC.CA]

Ilya Kovalchuk chooses Devils over Los Angeles Kings [NJ.COM]

NHL News (sorta) and LeBron James

Ok, I'm lying about LeBron James.

I'll let all those basketball rubes inflate his ego beyond all precedence. He needs it. I disliked Kobe because of his antics in Colorado but now... well. I don't see how anyone can be a LeBron fan. Not even Jordan had this kind of ego. So much for LeBron being likable. At least, after tonight, ESPN can return to normalcy... waiting to hear what Brett Favre has in mind.

Anyways, similar to LeBron, everyone's waiting for Ilya Kovalchuk to hold a press conference to let us know how well orchestrated his obliteration of the fun of the early free agency period has played out.

Seriously, I hope he joins Evgeni Nabokov in SKA St Petersburg of the KHL. Leave the egos to the NBA and NFL.

Nabokov left for the KHL and with him, goes the best free agent goaltender on the market. I know he never quite did well in the playoffs. I know his work ethic was questioned at times. I know his inconsistency as the season wore on. However, I give you this for consideration: Watch San Jose this season. They'll be ok, but not as good as they were with Nabokov. Why? Because I think Nabokov meant more to the Sharks than most people realized. And when that happens, failure happens. The Hawks didn't win because of Niemi. In fact, I think Niemi was their weakest link (and he played well so...). The Pens didn't win their cup because of Fleury. Fleury is still the weakest goaltender still playing today whose name is on the Cup... I know I know, Chris Osgood sucks, but he's got an excuse. HE'S OLD!

Rumor Nabokov got paid $24 million over 4 years with the KHL. Good for him. No way was he going to get that kind of money in the NHL.

This leaves the Flyers looking for a #1 goaltender. They've shown interest in Tim Thomas, but that fell through. They showed interest in Nabokov, but that's out of the question. They are left with Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher. They did great last post season but I doubt they'll repeat even with the dynamic defense Philly has put together.

So where does that leave them? They could stand pat (and they may have to) or they could go after Marty Turco (which is basically Turco's only shot at being the #1 at this point) or they could do what Chicago and Minnesota have done in finding a hidden gem in the Finnish Elite League.

Who knows.

In Detroit news, the Wings resigned former MSU Spartan Drew Miller and former Shattuck product Patrick Eaves. But they lost Lebda to the Maple Leafs.

They've made waves by going after Mike Modano, but I don't know if that's going to come to fruition.

I've maintained they need to get younger. And Modano isn't young.

They still have Meech, Abdelkader, and Helm unsigned and only $4.3 million to do it. If Modano signs with the Wings, ESPN suggests that it will cost at least $1 million. Abdelkader is going to be a multi year deal and could cost a pretty penny.

Unless they fail to sign the youth, this offseason is going to be long for a Red Wing fan.