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"NJ DEVILS BUZZ"
The Rock, NJ • United States • 35 Years Old • Male
source nj.com

After the Devils resolve the current contract situation with Ilya Kovalchuk, they can turn their attention toward locking up their other young superstar: Zach Parise.

Parise, who recorded 38 goals and 82 points last season, is entering the final year of a four-year, $12.5 million pact he signed in 2007. The Devils’ first-round draft pick in 2003, Parise is set to become a restricted free agent at season’s end and will be one of the most sought-after players on the market, likely commanding a similar sum to that of Kovalchuk.

Parise, who will turn 26 on July 28, sat in the first row with teammates Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond during Kovalchuk’s press conference at Prudential Center, supporting the Russian dynamo as he addressed the media after agreeing on a 17-year, $102 million deal.

Kovalchuk’s contract, however, was rejected by the league last night on the grounds that it circumvents the salary cap. The contract must be reworked.

As Parise watched Kovalchuk discuss his “life-changing” decision to stay with the franchise that acquired him from the Atlanta Thrashers right before last season’s trade deadline, his focus wasn’t on himself and his impending contract negotiations.

“I’m more excited he’s back more than anything,” said Parise, the left winger who has 335 points in 407 career games. “We’ll worry about my situation later. This is more for him.”

Parise said he has not discussed an extension in the offseason with Lou Lamoriello, a statement the general manager would neither confirm nor deny.

“I’m not going to get into that,” Lamoriello said. “Zach Parise is without question a franchise player here and we have to make sure that he doesn’t lose sight that we haven’t lost sight of that. I’m delighted to see him here today and I know he was excited about Kovy because he wants to win.”

Parise wasn’t actively involved in recruiting Kovalchuk to stay with the Devils. In fact, all the speculation he’d heard about the Los Angeles Kings’ courtship of Kovalchuk last week led Parise to believe he was going to leave.

“I thought when things kind of went quiet that we lost him. I didn’t think he was going to come here,” Parise said. “But out of nowhere I heard the other day that he signed. I’m really excited. I think it’s a great addition for us and I’m looking forward to playing with him a long time.

“He’s got that one-on-one skill that not a lot of players possess in this league where he can beat a guy one-on-one, but he’s a threat every time he’s got the puck.

“Sometimes last year I think we were guilty of trying to force him the puck and you could see the attention he gets on the ice, especially during the power play. You have to know where he is on the ice and that’s going to open things up for other guys.”

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur believes the addition of Kovalchuk enhances the chances that Parise will stay.

Plus, Brodeur is looking to Parise and Kovalchuk to succeed him as the new faces of the franchise.

“I think everybody is at a different place in their career and come from different backgrounds,” Brodeur said.

“We’ll see with Zach what he’s going for (in terms of money). But I think as a player like him, he’s excited to have another player to help him out and raise his point total and raise his goal total’’
July 21, 2010 9:46 AM ET | Delete
You can have one of them, but not both. If they somhow manage to sign Kovi there is no way they can sign Parise. Especially if the cap figure manages to increase as a result of the league rejecting the contract. Assuming Parise will have a cap hit of between 5.5 - 6.5, that would only leave the Devils at 54 million with only 14 players signed. Even if the cap goes up 1 million next year that leaves less then 900K for the remaining 7 roster spots. Can you say Chicago Part II
July 21, 2010 11:04 AM ET | Delete
@Dgutzman...You're not accounting for the fact that the Devils are going to be clearing some cap space elsewhere on the roster. They'll figure something out, they always do. Even if it means a salary dump where they have to sweeten the deal with a draft choice or choices.
July 22, 2010 8:40 AM ET | Delete
devils also have some large contracts coming off the books in the next 2 years....i dont think anyone (except kovy, hopefully) is signed past 2-3 years
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Blog Archive

10 On Kovi free agency
11 KOVI IN LA
12 KOVI SAGA GOES ON
12 IS KOVI USING THE DEVILS TO UP HIS PURSE????
12 WOW The Devils Make A Great Move!!!!
12 John MacLean is hands on as Devils open prospects camp
12 Is Ilya Kovalchuk moving closer to signing with Los Angeles?
13 Has Kovalchuck lost his footing with New Jersey Devils Fans?
13 Elias understands Kovalchuk's dilemma
14 Elias excited for what future holds
15 Lots of talk but nothing to announce yet on Kovalchuk
15 Kovalchuk Looking Less and Less Likely for New Jersey Devils
15 Kovalchuk desperately wants to be the highest paid Russian!!
15 Devils don't offer veteran center Eric Chouinard a contract
15 Anton Volchenkov: Devils were my second choice
15 MacLean meets the A-Train
16 Are Ilya Kovalchuk's salary demands tied to Alex Ovechkin?
16 Newly-signed Tyler Eckford wants to play his way into a job
16 Devils' World Won't End if Kovy Bypasses Newark
18 Kings believed they had a 50-50 chance of signing Kovinuts
19 Brian Rolston knows that changes are coming for Devils
19 Devils' signing of Ilya Kovalchuk puts a smile on John Mac!!
19 Dainius Zubrus: signing Ilya Kovalchuk was to shake up the Devils
19 What might happen next?????
20 Who Will Go???
20 Which Contracts Will Lou Dump Now?
20 Left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, there is significance to #17
21 Once Kovalchuk's deal is settled, attention to Zach!!!
21 NHL doesn't believe Ilya Kovalchuk will stay untill Age 44
21 contracts similar to Ilya Kovalchuk's deal with Devils
21 NHL Players' Assocation issues statement On Kovi
21 Lamoriello statement on Kovalchuk signing
21 ’t win Ilya Kovalchuk contract showdown
22 It's in hands of Ilya Kovalchuk and union
22 NHL might have picked wrong fight
22 LA Kings Dean Lombardi backs up Kovalchuck Contract
24 NHLPA to file grievance
25 The Kovi Saga
25 NHL prosecution merely a temper tantrum
26 Devils wait for players' union to file grievance
26 contract could trigger a war between Devils and NHL
27 Decision on Kovalchuk is expected nexty week
28 Kovalchuk contract could be restructured by arbitrator
28 Yann Danis Going to KHL
28 Mark Fraser Signed....
29 Newly-signed Mark Fraser vows to be 'mean, physical Player
30 Arbitrator has been agreed upon
30 Kovalchuck Hearing?????
31 Arbitrator - Richard Bloch a NEw Jersey Native
31 Association agree on arbitrator to rule on Ilya Kovalchuk
03 Kovalchuk will attend contract hearing
03 Devils will wear retro jerseys March 18 vs. Washington
04 D day for Kovi and the Devils
05 Roller Hockey at the Jersey Shore
06 Jim Dowd Shore High School Hockey Game set for Sunday
06 Is this is a set-up between Lou and Gary???
09 The arbitration decision coming today
11 Translated article from soviet sports kovalchuck
11 Devils name Rick Kowalsky head coach at Albany
12 HEATS ON!!!!
12 Where do the Devils stand in the market???
16 Today might be the day
16 90 million over 10-13 for kovi?
16 Russian News Paper Reports Devs and Kovi....
17 Contract submitted???
18 Another Quiet day in the Kovi Front
19 Devils still waiting to see what happens with Kovy
19 “Status Quo” On Ilya Kovalchuk And Devils
20 Devils After Marc-Andre Bergeron???
20 Kovi wants nothing to do with the KHL
20 Elias on the Move???
21 ELIAS TO THE ATLANTA TRASHERS????
21 Questions Surround Devils in Wake of Kovalchuck saga
22 Brian Burke Testified Against Ilya Kovalchuk Contract???
22 Devils Bringing Hockey Back To Atlantic City
23 Patrik Elias could be moved to sign fellow winger Zach Paris
23 Today could be the Day!!!
23 News 1130 out of Vancouver Reports on Kovi
23 Possible contract for Kovalchuck
23 Devils add more youth to the roster
23 EJHradek_ESPN Reports NJ Devils meet with the NHL
24 News 12 New Jersey Reports on Kovi Contract...
24 Bryce Salvador to Stars...
25 NHL 2 Devils 0.....
25 Lamoriello not frustrated by Kovalchuk process
25 Commish denies report of deal rejection
26 – NYPOST.com
26 Looks Like KHL is out of the question
27 Could this be finalyy over???
30 Devils could part with Zajac if Kovalchuk stays
30 ’ contract, but Kovalchuk retires
31 ’s official decision on Kovalchuk’s TODAY!!!!!
31 Niemi a Devil?????