The New Jersey Devils have agreed to terms with Zach Parise
on a one-year deal that will avoid his pending arbitration hearing. Bob McKenzie of TSN tweets that the deal will pay Parise $6 mil next season.
The fact that Parise is signed for next season will be a
comfort to Devils fans, but the failure to reach a long-term contract with
their franchise player is concerning considering Parise will be eligible for
unrestricted free agency next summer.
While this is certainly a setback in terms of the big picture, according
to Tom
Gulitti of The Record the team has not given up on trying to sign Parise to
a long-term deal and prevent him hitting the unrestricted market next
year. Parise cannot sign an extension
until after January 1, 2012.
Parise, 26, is coming off a season in which he only played
13 games due to a serious knee injury.
If he can prove that the knee is healthy and return to the form he
showed as a 40 goal, 80-90 point player he will find himself with a very rich
contract that should pay him amongst the highest salaries in the league.
