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According the Michael Russo of the Athletic, Bill Guerin has informed both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter that the Minnesota Wild plan to buy our the rest of their contracts this month parting ways with the long-time Wild Stars after nine seasons with the team.
The move comes on the cusp of rosters needing to be set prior to the expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken. It gives the Wild roster flexibility to protect other players who might factor more into the future plans for the team as well as offering more than $10 million in cap relief for the 2021-2022 season in which they will need to sign both Kaprizov and Fiala.
Guerin is planning a 1pm press conference this afternoon to discuss.
Below is the press release put out by the Minnesota Wild...
SAINT PAUL, Minn.- Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club will buy out the final four years of the contracts of forwardZach Pariseand defensemanRyan Suter.
“Zach and Ryan have been an integral part of the Wild’s success over the past nine years and we’ll always be grateful for their many contributions,” said Guerin. “There were numerous factors that entered into the difficult decision to buy out their contracts, but primarily these moves are a continuation of the transformation of our roster aimed at the eventual goal of winning a Stanley Cup.”
“I want to thank Zach and Ryan for everything they did for our organization over the past nine seasons, both on and off the ice,” said owner Craig Leipold. “They were tremendous ambassadors for our team and helped us win a lot of games. I wish them nothing but the best going forward.”
The Wild signed Parise and Suter as free agents on July 4, 2012. Minnesota went 354-237-74 (.588) and ranked T-8th in the NHL in team points (782) during their nine seasons (2012-21) and advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times. Both players will become unrestricted free agents, eligible to sign with any team in the NHL, except Minnesota.
Parise recorded 400 points (199-201=400) in 558 regular season games with the Wild and added 34 points (14-20=34) in 40 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He is the franchise leader in power-play goals, ranks second in game-winning goals and shots on goal and third in scoring and goals. Parise is also the franchise leader in scoring, goals, power-play goals and assists in the playoffs. He owns 810 points (393-417=810) in 1,060 career NHL games with New Jersey and Minnesota.
Suter collected 369 points (55-314=369) in 656 regular season games and 17 points (2-15=17) in 42 Stanley Cup Playoff matches with the Wild. He is the franchise leader in scoring, assists, power-play assists, plus/minus rating, shots on goal and time on ice among defensemen. Suter owns 607 points (93-514=607) in 1,198 career NHL contests with Nashville and Minnesota.