bdubdevs Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Great, long segment from TG with fan questions directed at Zach. Zach was very insightful and honest in his answers. http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/zach_parise_answers_your_questions_part_1/ This scares me. Lou has never been one to talk contracts prior to a player reaching their UFA year. As a player can you tell us whether or not you think that has an effect on whether or not the player remains? (Asked by Jeff) I think at times it may have a little impact. Everyone knows that Lou does things a certain way and prefers to wait until the season is over in order to not make it a distraction for a player. I can’t speak for anyone else, but sometimes a player may think, “Why not wait an extra two months until July 1 to see what kind of interest there is out there?” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinn01 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 This actually doesnt worry me. He seems calm and excited about the Devils and signing with them. Its all resting on Lou at this point wehter or not he wants to work with Parise or be a hard ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubanjd305 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 He also said: "(about Tedenby)..I think he is going to be a great player for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 he's giving a different answer re: coaches than what else was said at the end of the season. everyone else was calling for a clone of lemaire while parise is looking for an offensive minded guy. he's pretty diplomatic with these answers. i think money certainly matters but it's clear he wants to win just as much. the point being that i could see him sign a bit less if it meant he could go to say detroit or perhaps chicago or even pittsburgh because they might be closer to a cup. those teams, of course, would have a tough time fitting him in, but still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrthemike Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Parise doesn't come off as a greedy bastard but I guess we'll see when the time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimaira_Devil_#9 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 TG needs some form of award. Great read, i feel Zach is very honnest with all his answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Great stuff- props to TG for setting this up. Zach answers all the questions, and he's a class act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 he's giving a different answer re: coaches than what else was said at the end of the season. everyone else was calling for a clone of lemaire while parise is looking for an offensive minded guy. by offensive minded, i think parise means someone who will let him forecheck hard. that's what he's best at. problem is, that's what kovalchuk is worst at. that's why maclean's idea of parise and kovalchuk on the same line wasn't a terrible one - you let parise and zajac do all the forechecking work and let kovalchuk roam around looking for places to be. it didn't really work out that way. he's pretty diplomatic with these answers. i think money certainly matters but it's clear he wants to win just as much. the point being that i could see him sign a bit less if it meant he could go to say detroit or perhaps chicago or even pittsburgh because they might be closer to a cup. those teams, of course, would have a tough time fitting him in, but still. none of these teams could fit him in unless he took a massive paycut. detroit's got money coming free, but it's on defense, where they are not exactly loaded in their minor league system - they're going to have to spend that money right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 by offensive minded, i think parise means someone who will let him forecheck hard. that's what he's best at. problem is, that's what kovalchuk is worst at. that's why maclean's idea of parise and kovalchuk on the same line wasn't a terrible one - you let parise and zajac do all the forechecking work and let kovalchuk roam around looking for places to be. it didn't really work out that way. Agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 none of these teams could fit him in unless he took a massive paycut. detroit's got money coming free, but it's on defense, where they are not exactly loaded in their minor league system - they're going to have to spend that money right away. i'm too lazy/busy to check it out right now, but if parise took a long deal w/ a $6MM cap hit (12/72) that paid him heavy for the next 6 years, you don't think detroit or pittsburgh couldn't make it work? chicago would be almost impossible. another team i'll maybe throw out there as a true darkhorse - nashville. they've obviously got the cap room. suter's there. they'd need to take care of weber but i think that if things go south with NJ, it's an interesting destination - providing nashville would pay him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 i'm too lazy/busy to check it out right now, but if parise took a long deal w/ a $6MM cap hit (12/72) that paid him heavy for the next 6 years, you don't think detroit or pittsburgh couldn't make it work? chicago would be almost impossible. i don't think detroit could, no. and the cap is exploding. paying parise 12/72 just might not be an option - remember that a not small portion of that money gets sacrificed to the escrow gods. another team i'll maybe throw out there as a true darkhorse - nashville. they've obviously got the cap room. suter's there. they'd need to take care of weber but i think that if things go south with NJ, it's an interesting destination - providing nashville would pay him. this is kovalchuk-to-the-islanders unlikely. the predators don't have the money and even if they did, they probably wouldn't have the money for anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsfan118 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I don't see why any of these answers would scare anyone. He seems optimistic about getting a deal done here, and was generally positive on his experience thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Parise is so interesting in a way to me... because I just have no connection to him. I think he's a great player - love his work ethic. He clearly knows hockey - I have no objection to his vision of the game and what it is.... he's so open-ended - he's inarticulate by choice in a way -- he can't get his vision out as keenly as he's going to need to. It feels like he;s not satisfied with how he;d say it, so he holds back --- or he doesn't want to be very clearly understood. I'm not convinced he wants to be here at all. That has NOTHING to do with Kovalchuk. Neal Broten - that's adorable and I get it all.... so that's a good sign -- but then you gotta think Neal Broten - that's what you've got? OK. I mean it's telling. His values are very endearing -- I am with that and all --- it's just a very tenuous (though sincere) bond he's got here. He clearly doesn't feel he has the sight to change things here in NJ but he sees the possibility. But does he WANT that kind of control. It's just a lot to deal with. He's going to put too much on his back when considering what would keep him here. I've just got that old Niedermayer feeling - knows he has the ability but is the desire there? he likes the good results that appear effortless. He feels he's going to have to expend a lot of effort to be the player he wants to be on this team - with this organization. He's got it in his head he;s going to need to work to be heard. All his comments are about how to be heard - how he's not just sluggin' the Kool aide. I really respect his sincerity. but every action and observation is about being heard by the organization - how and what to communicate to the team -not just us fans. The starting point he is really clearly insistent about starting at -- it's not feeling like the right place. but what other place is there... and from the other stand point -- how do you get this wonderful talent, a smart hard-working sincere guy to see the reality of where you stand. how it's not far apart --- I think both sides of course will sign on for at least another year -- but is this going to be worth the effort? For the team hands down yes because they kind of -- well -- they have the canvas - they have painted the scene. "Here is the canvas Zach, - now grab a brush." but you have this guy who is thinking "Hmmmeh.... I don't think this is what we really want... " so yes Lou will say - "OK paint over it -- lets see what you've got...." and Zach at the heart of it, has no fvcking idea --- he's just kind of childishly thinking "well... it's not this" -- but they also all know they want the SAME thing. He can't paint and his Dad was no painter of words either so... this is just THE worst place to be in -- and the best... And a little analogy -- he can't be Joe Sakic. He's just not that guy... Zach Parise (if he realizes his full potential) is to Joe Sakic what Scott Neidermayer is to Nick Lidstrom. The problem is Scott really understood this system - probably because he was a defenceman. And he knew kind of what self indulgent ways you can stray from it. Zach... self-indulgence just isn't in his vocabulary so he can't take anything away with him the way Scott did. i think what's bugging me is Zach is a very plug and play hockey guy - he has not bought in to the System at all. Being plug and play - there is nothing keeping him here. Point is there isn't anything better out there - he'll just be plug an play like any other guy -- Wings -- the wings take plug and plays - he'd find what he thinks he wants there. let;s just be honest even. Anything else -- it's all no better no worse - he can do 5 years here 5 years there to finish out his career. AND even rest flippin' assured he can come back to NJ his last useless years to boot He can stay he can go -- there is nothing keeping here and nothing to be offered to make him stay - no one here better fool themselves into believing any crock of sh!t that says otherwise. He;ll see whatever he wants to see regardless of what the team does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amberite Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 There is nothing scary in those responses. He is being refreshingly honest, and by all accounts it sounds like he wants to stay here. Also, why would he volunteer to answer so many questions from the fans (for no pay) if he didn't plan on staying here? That's not something a player on his way out does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Dan 56 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 (edited) Zach: Do you want to punch Chris Pronger in the face? I do.(Asked by OhioDevil) No, I don’t really care, but I’ll watch you do it. Lolz. Edited April 25, 2011 by Devil Dan 56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Yeah - to me he sounds frustrated and excited about his situation here. I'm old so all I can feel is tired thinking about it. I for sure could be hearing it all wrong - he may be really excited about the possibilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 There is nothing scary in those responses. He is being refreshingly honest, and by all accounts it sounds like he wants to stay here. Also, why would he volunteer to answer so many questions from the fans (for no pay) if he didn't plan on staying here? That's not something a player on his way out does. No, but he's not 'on his way out'. Whatever happens, he's staying an additional year. I don't like that he's reading Moneyball. If his agent finds out about Corsi, we're all screwed. (And yes, this is a joke, because I know someone would take this seriously) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amberite Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 No, but he's not 'on his way out'. Whatever happens, he's staying an additional year. I don't like that he's reading Moneyball. If his agent finds out about Corsi, we're all screwed. (And yes, this is a joke, because I know someone would take this seriously) I guess I chose the wrong words by saying "on his way out". I meant to say that if he didn't have serious interest in staying in NJ long term, he wouldn't take time out to do this for the fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 I guess I chose the wrong words by saying "on his way out". I meant to say that if he didn't have serious interest in staying in NJ long term, he wouldn't take time out to do this for the fans. I agree with that. It's hard to read this as media manipulation. The answer about Kovalchuk (which I was surprised he answered) seemed to me the most illuminating - you get what you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedenby21 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 He also said: "(about Tedenby)..I think he is going to be a great player for us. I noticed that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Seriously though -- why is he reading Moneyball? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American_Psycho Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Maybe because it's a good book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Seriously though -- why is he reading Moneyball? Maybe he's interested in being a hockey executive when he's done playing? Moneyball isn't really about personal self-improvement - it's more about how to win if you're in charge. It's about how to go from being a super-talented athlete into being able to dispassionately evaluate the play of others. It is absolutely an odd choice. Maybe he's just pumped for the movie version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Or he's just a big baseball fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I was thinking he's not a baseball fan -- probably the movie... but I sort of wondered if he's looking for insight - a well rounded take on things. My take on it all is for sure skewed by the fact everyone was asking his thoughts -- so of course his comments were all about what he was seeing and how he might be able to apply it to the team and his situation -- then the Moneyball thing. It just feels like he's trying to learn something - his mind has been allowed to drift off ice. In ways NJ is the best place for that -- but I think its also very daunting. I'm nervous that in looking for his opportunities he'll perceive only the limitations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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