NHL FA rumor.

[Bear55]

I honestly don't know who I prefer, just going to trust the Wild. After the top 3-4 players the quality is still there but each D and F seem to have some minor holes in their game. Glad it's not up to me to be honest. Looking at past drafts can be kind of scary, a lot of the top guys are good but plenty fizzle out and some later picks turn out to be studs. You just never know, total dump shoot.

[Bear55]

Sounds like the Wild are going to let Lats test free agency (just a rumor at this point) but I don't like it. Yes he has been useless for 2 years with injuries and I understand trying to get him cheaper but the dude has 30 goal potential, take a chance on him for 1 year at his 2.5 salary and see what happens. He could be the difference between playoffs and no playoffs.

[OnAFly]

There's no way anyone gives him 2.5mil and we shouldn't either. I'm guessing he gets 1-1.5mil from someone, maybe more with performance bonuses. You just can't pay a guy 2.5mil who just sat out 140 of the last 164 games.

[Bear55]

All the details here, I still wanted to keep him and see how it worked out but I guess you can be happy for the guy. He had nothing but good things to say about MN and he likely get to work closer to his son.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/160694815.html

[10,000 Casts]

He was pretty bad when he was on the Habs before he came here on what sounded like a last chance effort before he was demoted to the minors, he has 1 good season and gets a contract and then gets hurt. $1.5 mil should be enough to fly his kid out to Minny any time he wants... he sounds like a head case to me.

[solbes]

So we'll throw a whole pile of money at Parise. Maybe he takes it, maybe he doesn't. Crosby just got an extension, so he knows he can play next to Sid, who he's good friends with. Staal just got shipped out so who knows, that might be where he goes if winning trumps $$$.

Suter would be great, but it seems like Detroit wants him pretty badly. If we don't get either of those guys, who are we going after?

We still need an improved blue line. Matt Carle and Jason Garrison are both former WCHA guys that have some value. I'd love to see Garrison come here, but I doubt that will happen. Sounds like Schultz has narrowed it down to 4 Canadian teams and the Rangers. Who else is there?

[OnAFly]

Pitt has 14mil in space, but have only 5 defensemen and 11 forwards signed next year. Do they offer Parise less money but a strong shot at a cup? If they do, I bet he takes a short contract with them.

If he doesn't, it's between us and Det. Det has 5 defensemen and 12 forwards signed with 24mil in space. Min has 6 defensemen and 11 forwards signed with 19mil in cap space and a bunch of young guys they may have to resign.

If it comes down to a bidding war, is Parise worth 9mil+ considering the CBA and the possibility of a reduced cap in the coming years?

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Sidney Crosby is one solid check away from coloring books and cartoons... sad but true. I dont know why people think pitt is such a solid option.

[archerystud]

I'm heading up to Rainy Lake on Sat morning. Hoping when I get back that the Wild have landed Parise and Carle.

I will be surprised if Suter ends up anywhere but Detroit.

I like Crosby but I do agree that the contract seems to be pretty risky for the organization at this point.

[solbes]

I guess FL has an offer on the table for Garrison, but he seems to be waiting for July 1. I'm sure he'd like to return to Canada, but he does have some ties to Minnesota as well.

I'm all in for Suter, but Chuck can't close the deal I hope he heads to #52 next. Solid defenseman in his zone, makes some good outlet passes, and has a cannon of a shot. Maybe $4-4.5mil? 2 years younger than Suter and $2.5-3M cheaper. Less proven of course.

Carle would be good, but I doubt he makes it out of Philly.

[Bear55]

Hey at least the Wild are in the hunt for the two biggest FA available, that has never happened before. I does suck that we are up against Detroit and Pitt but what do you do, we can only make a sales pitch and and offer, then hope for the best. So much is out of our control at this point. Chances are we don't land either but I kind of have a tiny little gut feeling we are going to snag one of them. Highly likely we overpay for them so that isn't great news but it might be the step we need to take to make the playoffs either this season or next. We have cap room and even more cap space coming off the books next year so $ aren't a big issue, I just hope we don't go too crazy.

[solbes]

In Chuck we trust I guess. I am also pumped to see Leopold being so bold this offseason. He knows he needs to get back to the playoffs and he's not afraid to throw some weight and $$$ around.

[OnAFly]

Agreed, so far I think Leopold has been a pretty good owner. He enjoys the game, listens to his GM, and is willing to spend money to get results.

[Bear55]

Sounds like Parise will be meeting with his agents Sunday so news could come fast. Suter on the other hand might wait a few days and see how it all shakes out. If we can land Parise it kind of makes you wonder if that makes us even more attractive to Suter.

Pipe Dream? For sure, but hey it could maybe-sorta-kinda-happen.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/160835935.html

[OnAFly]

Isn't Russo the greatest! Honestly, it's nice to have a semi-objective voice telling you about the team.

[solbes]

Justin Scultz signed a deal with the Oilers. There goes one of the better available defenseman. To a division opponent no less. Hopefully only for 1 more year, they are getting good.

Neither Matt Carle or Jason Garrison have signed with their current teams, so that gives some options beyond Suter.

[Bear55]

Sounds like every GM is handing Parise and Suter their checkbooks and asking them to fill in the blanks. I was hoping we might be able to land one of them (still possible) but I liked our odds a lot more before the penguins got in the game.

The Wild did sign Zenon Konopka (4th line toughness guy) and Torrey Mitchell. Mitchell looks like maybe a 3rd liner from the sharks, don't know much about him.

[OnAFly]

All I know about Mitchell is he was they guy who ran Foster into the boards.

[Bear55]

Neither Matt Carle or Jason Garrison have signed with their current teams, so that gives some options beyond Suter.

Garrison signed with Vancouver. I think he is from BC so that makes sense. 6 years at 4.6M.

Carle will probably wait to see what Suter does, the $$$ will go when he is the last big name D available.

[Bear55]

McKenzie reporting Parise final word will come mid to late afternoon, Suter some time after that. I am hopeful but realistic, lots of quality teams with big big offers out there.

[10,000 Casts]

Konopka is an awesome pick up!! Now everybody that turns down Kassian will have to deal with Konopka. 20-30 fights every year and will fight anybody. Also a solid penalty killer and solid faceoff guy. This shows us that they want to protect their prospects and should help bring in another high end guy. God this year is going to be awesome. My offseason is now complete!!!

Kassian's Tweet about the signing

Quote:

Matt Kassian ‏@kassassination

First time I played against Konopka there was almost a giant brawl in warm-ups... More than happy to have him on my side

[Bear55]

Konopka did pretty well in that fight consider the huge size advantage Kassain has.

[Bear55]

Just rumors but i'm hearing Parise is down to Wild and Penguins, someone quick "Tonya Harding" Crosby and Malkin!

Russo has also stated several times if we can land Parise we migth have a decent shot at Suter, if we don't land him he likely ends up in Detroit. So we either hit the Jackpot or nothing.

[OnAFly]

How much is a flight to Pittsburgh?

[Bear55]

I'll pay you expenses when the job is done.