Why the Wild will not trade or sign an offer sheet for Zach Parise.

I have read countless comments clamoring for the signing on Zach Parise, the new hockey messiah to save our struggling franchise & to usher in a new age of Stanley cup playoffs & parade prosperity.  Lets think about this objectively shall we? Make the Jump & let get down to the facts.

2010 Compensation

• $1,020,348 or below: No compensation.
• $1,020,348 to $1,545,981: A third-round draft choice.
• $1,545,981 to $3,091,963: A second round draft choice.
• $3,091,963 to $4,637,944: A first-round choice and a third-rounder.
• $4,637,944 to $6,183,925: A first- a second- and a third-rounder.
• $6,183,925 to $7,729,907: Two First-round choices, a second-rounder and a third-rounder.
• Over $7,729,907: Four first-rounders.

2009 Compensation

• $994,433 or below – None
• $994,433 to $1,506,716 –3rd round pick
• $1,506,716 to $3,013,434 – 2nd round pick
• $3,013,434 to $4,520,150 – 1st and3rd round pick
• $4,520,150 to $6,026,867 – 1st, 2nd, and3rd round pick
• $6,026,867 to $7,533,584 –2 1st round picks, a 2nd and3rd round pick
• $7,533,584 –4 1st round picks

2008 Compensation

• $863,156 or less – None
• $863,156 – $1,307,812 –3rd round pick
• $1,307,812 – $2,615,625 – 2nd round pick
• $2,615,623 – $3,923,437 – 1st and3rd round pick
• $3,923,437 – $5,231,249 – 1st, 2nd, and3rd round pick
• $5,231,249 – $6,539,062 – Two 1st’s, one 2nd, one 3rd round pick
• $6,539,062 or more –Four 1st round picks
  

Zach Parise:  Four consectutive 30 goal + seasons,  point per game player the past two (not including this years devastating knee injury.)  Point per game average in the playoffs, coming off a 5 million dollar contract year.  He plain & simply makes his teammates & his team better just by getting on the ice.  During the olympics he almost singlehandedly won the Gold medal for the Americans as he was EVERYWHERE during the Gold Medal game.  Has only missed three games up unitl his knee surgery so he is also durable.  Tried to play on the knee even though it was heavily damaged. 

Parise will attract a 6 million plus salary.    So lets say he signs a contract with the Wild in the same range as Koivu. 6.5 million. That means the Wild will give up two first round picks, a second round & a third.  That is do able if he signs a long term deal.  What does that do to the Wild roster?

Parise 6.5 Havlat 5.0 Bouchard  4.08 Cullen 3.5 Koivu 6.75 Latendresse 2.5 Nystrom 1.4 Clutterbuck 1.4

Brodziak 1.15 Staubitz .575 Zidlicky 4.0 Burns 3.55 Shultz 3.5 Barker 3.083 Zanon 1.933 Stoner .550 Spurgeon .526

Backstrom 6.0.  If you took the time to add that up it is 56 Million & you have to add in three more forwards, one defenseman & a backup goalie.  That is four million left roughly for 5 players, sure its doable but then you have to remember the injury call ups, they count towards the cap as well.  I also forgot that lovely booby prize from Smug, the 1 million cap hit for Parish so that Is 57 million & leaves 3 million for 5 players.

Well that clearly won't work, as the WIld would be damn close to the cap.  So the Wild could trade a player or two, but not the ones people would like.  Zidlicky is not going anywhere, ntc puck mover etc.  Cullen, NTC doing what he has been paid to do, wish he would score more but he is what we thought he was.  Backstrom, not going anywhere people, he won't waive his NTC & he is a top 5 goalie in the NHL, & has stats to prove it.  Don't believe it people compare him to other top goalies like Fluery, Miller, Thomas, Kipprusoff & see.  Barker could be interesting, could bury him in the minors but I don't think Fletcher will do that, I believe that he still thinks Barker can be a top 4 defenseman in the NHL & will give him that shot.  So who gets traded?  Who do we have that others would want?  Thats where we just plain don't know. We know others covet Burns, but no one wants to trade him, Latendresse?  But he is our power forward & our goal scorer.  Clutterbuck?  But he is a fan favorite, our hitter & agitator. Well lets just trade XY&Z for Ovechkin.  Sorry people doesn't work that way.  Remember every team wants to get better while suckering the other team out of a great piece of the puzzle.  They are not going to give us anything for free.  They are in it to win it as well. 

The Coup de Grace?

We would all like to believe that Zach would like to come to Minnesota & save this struggling franchise.  He is a hometown kid & a regional hero (North Dakota too) & it would be great for him to play for the WIld, but honestly why would he?  It is his turn to pick his destiny & his destination.    He is in the eastern conference, where travel is much nicer, more time at home in his own bed.  He can pick any winning team he wants.  Imagine him on a team like the Capitals?  Blackhawks? Vancouver? Flyers?  He only has to sign a one year deal to get him to the promised land.  He wants the cup, he doesn't want to pick up a destitute franchise in the middle of finding itself.  Would it be fantastic if he did?  Would he make the Wild a better team?  Yes it would & yes its great to fantasize but then reality gets in the way again.  There is no way Parise becomes a Wild.