I would put money on the Devils resigning former Fighting Sioux star Zach Parise and not resigning Ilya Kovalchuk. I think on it’s face this pair of transactions would be a no brainier. Duh! Zach Parise is a team players and a loyal Devil, Ilya Kovalchuk (a rent a player at the trade deadline) is a self centered me type player that turned down 70 million over ten seasons with his former team. Almost Latrell Sprewell like and how the moron once made the ridiculous comment that he couldn’t feed his family on 7 million a year. If the Devils decided to Trade Parise they could get a lot of value back in a trade, but I couldn't see the Devils trading one of the faces of their organization. It's been nice knowing you Ilya.
Besides picking a coach again, the Devils have another major decision on their hands, which left wing to shower millions upon. They can't afford both Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk after next season, not without shortchanging other more-needed positions, and they need to choose now.
Underscoring the imminent nature of that choice, The Post has learned that Parise is dropping his current agent and is seeking a new adviser to guide him through this vital summer.
In the next six weeks, the Devils had better find out which they can best do: extend Parise's walk-year contract (officially after July 1, but they're free to do everything but file the deal before then), or sign Kovalchuk before he reaches unrestricted free agency on July 1.
PICK ONE: The Devils must decide whether they want to extend the contract of Zach Parise (pictured) or re-sign Ilya Kovalchuk before he reaches unrestricted free agency on July 1. It's a crossroads decision as important to the future of the franchise as the selection of another coach, and it would be an upset if the choice is Kovalchuk over Parise.
Kovalchuk did turn down $70 million over seven years from Atlanta, yet it's clear that money doesn't trump everything with him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be playing for peanuts as Russia's captain at the World Championships in Germany, risking injury and his summertime fortune.
Still, to expect him to take a pay cut from last year's $7.5 million is unrealistic. If he walks, general manager Lou Lamoriello's impulse buy with Anssi Salmela, costing Jersey Johnny Oduya, Niklas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-rounder, will prove to have been in vain.
Parise, widely regarded as a future Devils captain, becomes unrestricted after he earns $5 million next season. Failure to extend Parise, which would likely be the case if they sign Kovalchuk, would open the issue of trading Parise as the most-desirable-ever rental at the deadline, regaining the future that was lost Feb. 4.
"I put Parise in the same sentence with [Alex] Ovechkin and [Sidney] Crosby," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told The Post before the start of the playoffs, talking about him as a postseason opponent, but giving a clear indication of Parise's value.
It seems unlikely that Kovalchuk would sign for much less than $8 million a year, or Parise under $7 million per. If those conservative figures prove valid, the Devils would be devoting $29 million in cap space to left wings Kovalchuk, Parise, Patrik Elias ($6 million hit), Brian Rolston ($5 million) and shifted-out Dainius Zubrus ($3.4 million), half the foreseeable limit, just at one position.
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It would be shocking for the Devils to not try to sign Parise.
ReplyDeleteZach isn't going anywhere. The Devils realize that he is the future of the team, along with Travis Zajac.
ReplyDeleteAll Kovalchuk can do is score goals. That's it, he is a one-dimensional player. His teammates in Atlanta hated him because he is a prima donna.