Talk about making a statement. The Minnesota Wild have acquired the two most coveted free agents in this year’s class, forward Zach Parise and defenceman Ryan Suter. Both inked 13 year deals worth a total of $98 million and will be joining a Wild team that looked to start out strong in the 2011-2012 season but quickly faded out of the playoff race. Reports had indicated that the Wild had been interested in both players, with hometown boy Zach Parise being the top prize, but few had predicted that the Wild would sign both.
Many other teams including New Jersey and Chicago had been heavily pursuing the services of Parise, but in the end, the all-star forward decided to sign with his hometown Minnesota Wild. The 27 year old is coming off a down year in which he totalled 69 points but was able to play all 82 games of the regular season, after coming off a an injury-plagued 2010-2011 campaign in which he played in just 13 games for the New Jersey Devils.
The Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators had been teams interested in the services of Ryan Suter but in the end he too decided on the Wild. The star defenceman is coming off a career season in points with 46 points in 79 games.
The two coming together in Minnesota will not be the first they have played on the same side, as both are members of the United States national team.
Two big moves and the Wild have suddenly been propelled into the Western Conference contenders list. What do you think of their acquisitions? Too many years? Too much money? Let me know in the comments.
Source: CBC