By Jordan Long
The NHL is in the offseason. The first order of business is the NHL expansion draft for Seattle on July 21st. After that, the NHL draft takes place on July 23rd. Once the draft is completed, NHL free agency begins July 28th. The Minnesota Wild have decided to buy out the remaining contracts of defenseman Ryan Suter and forward Zach Parise.
Suter and Parise agreed to major contracts with Minnesota on July 4th, 2012. Both of them settled on identical contracts of 13 years, $98 million, paying them around $7.538 million a year. Suter was going to help the Wild on defense. He knew how to poke check the puck from a skater coming into the defensive zone. He could also block shots and check opponents off the puck. On offense, Suter could set up his teammates and find them for scoring opportunities. With his slap shot and one timer, he had his chances to score. This was hopefully going to improve the blue line for the Wild for years to come.
Parise, on the other hand, was a scorer. He could carry the puck into the offensive zone and shoot the puck for scoring opportunities. He was able to set up in front of the goaltender for tip-ins and rebound chances. The Wild believed these moves would help them win a Cup. The deals were set to expire in 2024.
Suter ended up playing for the Wild in 656 regular season games. He scored 55 goals and added 314 assists for a total of 369 points. On the power play, he lit the lamp 21 times while assisting on 117 goals. Parise also helped the offense with 199 goals and 201 assists for 400 points. On the power play, Parise totaled 69 goals and 49 assists. Both of these skaters helped Minnesota earn a playoff spot 7 times.
Unfortunately, Minnesota didn’t have playoff success with them. 5 times, including this year, they were knocked out of the 1st-round. Minnesota advanced to the second round twice in 2014 and 2015, but that was the furthest they went.
This season Minnesota earned a playoff spot with a record of 35-16-5 for 75 points. They faced the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. It took 7 games but they fell in game 7, 6-2. Once that game was over, the front office of the Wild needed to make moves to improve this team to make a deeper run in 2022. They decided it was best to buy out Parise and Suter since it didn’t help them win a championship. It will give both of these skaters a fresh start since they are now free agents.
According to ESPN.com, Minnesota Wild Owner Craig Leipold said, “I want to thank Zach and Ryan for everything they did for our organization over the past nine seasons, both on and off the ice. They were tremendous ambassadors for our team and helped us win a lot of games. I wish them nothing but the best going forward.”
Suter and Parise will land on another team. Suter is 36 years old but he can still play the game at a high level. He can score and check which would help a teams’ defensive core. Parise is also 36. He may not be a first or second-line skater anymore but still can fire the puck on net to score. Both of them should receive offers once free agency opens up. It might not be right away but a day or two into free agency.
For Minnesota, it could be a sign of rebuilding. They know these moves created around $15.076 million in cap space for this offseason, more than enough money to agree to contracts with a few skaters. The Wild know they will replace Suter and Parise but there are plenty of names in free agency to do so. Minnesota probably learned their lesson of not giving two athletes such long-term contracts. It didn’t work out but at least they have a chance to improve their team. Minnesota has never won the Cup or advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. They would like to end that drought.
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