Had Martin Brodeur not already laid to rest any doubts some may have had about him returning to the crease next season for the New Jersey Devils, the big question on everyone’s mind heading into the offseason would’ve been whether or not the 40-year-old was going to hang up his skates.
But Brodeur himself answered various forms of the same question numerous times following the Devils Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Kings—he’s coming back.
Fortunately for GM Lou Lamoriello, that’s one less thing he has to worry about this offseason.
But what about his soon-to-be free-agent captain and star center, Zach Parise?
Meeting with the media for the first time since New Jersey came up just two wins shy of winning the Stanley Cup, the 27-year-old Parise made it clear that his intentions are to stay with the team that drafted him back in 2003. In fact, when he was asked pointblank if he’d play for the New York Rangers, a team that is allegedly going to be pushing hard for his services when Parise officially becomes a free agent on July 1, he didn’t mince words: “No.”
Parise did elaborate a bit on his feelings, but he refused to give away any information on a timetable for a deal to get done.
“We’re going to keep all that stuff between Lou and I, as we always have,” Parise said. “I’ve said all along I love playing here. I’ve always appreciated everything that this organization has done for me. My feelings have never changed.”
And while this all may be music to Devils fans ears now, Parise, who will undoubtedly be the biggest free-agent prize this offseason, may change his tune once the huge offers start rolling in.
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