Lightning Round: Tampa Bay should sign Zach Parise in free agency

This story seems pretty straightforward to me. Zach Parise is freshly unemployed after being bought out by the Minnesota Wild. He’s getting paid $6 million in cash this season from the Wild and probably still has a lot to give in the NHL.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning are on a quest to shed salary cap space and replace it with some cheap forwards. The Bolts are expected to graduate a handful of Syracuse Crunch prospects, but having a known quantity like Parise would definitely help in the top nine. Considering how much he’s getting paid by the Wild, it’s hard to imagine Parise would want more than a million or so on a short term deal with their reigning two-time Stanley Cup Champions.

As for Parise the player, he would be a high-risk signing considering he’s going to be 37 when the season starts. However, he’s been a first-line skater his whole career (up until this year) and is a good player in front of the net. He’s still got his legs and scoring touch, which is about all the Lightning could ask for in a cheap forward. I’ll also add that I think his give-a-damn meter is pretty high, which is something you want to see in a player who’s motivation might be in question after a buyout.

I would bet on him, because the worst thing that could happen is he’s on the fourth line or waived/traded to another team.

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Considering all the talk immediately after the buyouts were announced, it’s pretty clear GM Bill Guerin wanted to get rid of Parise and Suter because he was tired of the relationship more than anything else. I think that lends to both players having good seasons next year on different teams. They seem poised for a resurgence with lower profiles on already-established teams. [Star Tribune]

“For the Wild to make this move, to ditch two still-valuable players while the team’s stated intention is to win as much and as soon as possible, team management really got sick of these guys.”

Also happening in Minnesota, another big contract negotiation that has red flags waving from every direction. We got another Mitch Marner, folks!

Gosh, the irony just doesn’t stop with Montreal, eh? Looks like they’re going to sit Shea Weber for the season before inevitably activating him for the playoffs. The big question for Montreal is are they even going to make the playoffs next year? I’m betting no.

This salary cap tomfoolery also extends to the Cap Recapture penalties Weber is set to experience once he retires. If Montreal (and Nashville) can convince the NHL he’s injured, they can leave him on LTIR in Montreal until the contract expires in five seasons from now.

Glass houses, Montreal fans. Glass houses.

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed Teddy Blueger, who is a decent third liner. To me, this indicates that someone like Barclay Goodrow is going to get a significant step above this as a UFA, and Coleman a step even above that. Not to be a wet blanket, but that makes it near-impossible to bring them back.

The Seattle Kraken SBN blog is hiring contributors in case anyone reading this would like to throw their hat in the ring!

Just call the rules. No game management, please. PLEASE.