Great Read from Detroit relative to Parise and Suter destination

It’s Down To Two

by IwoCPO on 06/23/12 at 07:44 AM ET
Comments (3)

If Zach Parise and Ryan Suter landed in Minnesota, we’d be highly pissed. Because it’s the Wild and we fear them as legitimate contenders for Detroit’s Cup? No. They won’t and wouldn’t win it with or without Parise and/or Suter. We’d be upset because the two most sought-after free agents in history will have landed anywhere but the (Hockey) town where they belong.

It cannot be overstated just how badly the Wings need at least one of these players, and most likely both. Missing out on one, should they leave their current cities, would be hard to handle.
Failing to bring in either would be crushing. Like losing a Cup in Game 7 type of pain. It would be like losing a Cup to the team that Gary Bettman coronated, led by a petulant, diving, yam sacking, “captain” and fabricated “icon”, then watching that same Bettman fantasy-child lift our Cup on our ice.
With me? I’m getting to a point here.
There are two teams with dynasties at stake right now. One real, breathing dynasty. Another one that is two signatures away from reality. Parise and Suter are gonna sign somewhere together (I believe that) and it’s going to come down to one of two places, because those two franchises offer so much more than any others in Gary’s soon-to-be-locked-out-again league.
San Jose’s not going after both of our guys. They have 11 million in Cap space, only 15 guys signed and a history of losing horrifically, probably because they’re “led” by a big, soft, Jumbo pile of red-haired shit.
Chicago has all of 8 million left (that’s about 1 million less than it’s going to take to sign Parise) and I believe their management doesn’t have the smarts or the sway to get both.
LA: oh, I know. I know. They want to “stay competitive”. They’ve “had a taste” and once you’ve been there, boy, you want more and more. Got it. Wanting ain’t getting. Not when you have less than 12 to spend and little to offer in terms of firepower to surround Parise with, although Kopitar is something, I’ll grant you that. And, despite the skepticism with which I view these “Suter is a small-town boy” reports coming from Josh Cooper’s generator-powered basement, LA doesn’t seem like his kind of town.
Colorado literally believes they have a shot at both. Bitch, please. Yeah, they’ve got plenty of Cap room. At 40 million, they’ve got an entire team to buy if they want to. Fortunately, Parise, Suter and their agents should be smart enough to see that despite all that room and money there is no core in place. All their arrival there would mean is a potential playoff berth. No. These guys are going to land in a city that immediately becomes The Favorite the minute they sign. Denver is not that city. Denver’s a lot of things, a pisspot wannabe hockey city with six “fans”, a beat writer who moonlights for Cosmo, male bloggers who hyphenate their last names, but it’s not the town that is two superstars away from the Cup.
St. Louis, quiet to this point but loaded with all that cash stashed away from Pall Mall sales at the middle schools, is a player. I do believe that. Plenty of money and a dangerous, internal belief that they are close. They actually think they’re a player away from Glory. I happen to believe they’re a goaltender, about three scorers and a coach who isn’t going to alienate his players within the first three months of the season away. But, they don’t see it that way and they’re going to make a pitch for both. If they haven’t already.
But they won’t get ‘em. They’re close but they can’t offer what the Wings and another team can: the certainty that their signing will lead to multiple Cup Finals appearances, if not Cups themselves.
It’s down to Detroit and Pittsburgh and that should be enough to make you just lose it, physically. I’m talking all bodily functions. And it’s not because you hate Pittsburgh. It’s because if Parise and Suter sign there, it’s done. Sealed. Schedule the parade and start the photoshops of Bettman and Rosby, faces smeared with Yoohoo, giving each other eskimo kisses, while Hall and Oates’ timeless classic “Maneater” blares in the background of a Cup celebration.
And like the kids would say? It’s getting real, now.
Yahoo

But Staal’s now-former Penguins teammates could celebrate there, too, toasting their buddy and their GM. Shero should have had little leverage in trade talks. The news had broken that Staal, a year away from unrestricted free agency, had turned down the offer of a 10-year contract and would consider an extension only with Carolina. Still, Shero finagled center Brandon Sutter, a good, young, two-way, third-line center who can fill Staal’s role, plus the No. 8 overall pick and a prospect.
Then he wasn’t done. He traded defenseman Zbynek Michalek to the Phoenix Coyotes for a third-round pick and two prospects. Staal was going to average about $6 million for the next decade, while Sutter has a cap hit of $2 million for two more seasons. Michalek has a cap hit of $4 million for three more seasons. Shero freed up a lot of money, which means he can make more trades or go after the biggest fish in free agency July 1 – winger Zach Parise or defenseman Ryan Suter.
Asked if he could add yet another impact player, Shero said: “Yeah, possibly. Possibly. We’ll look to do that.”

“Possibly”, my ass.
You read about Parise wanting to play with Datsyuk? That’s nice. You think he wouldn’t want to skate with shitbag Rosby and Malkin, too? As much as we hate them both, they’re dynamic, amazing players. And they’re younger than our guys. LA’s not the place for Suter, neither is New York? Ok. Try Pittsburgh on for size, Ryan. Rust belt, and all that. Blue collar. Just like Detroit. Talent already in place? Proven winners? Style of play? Money to spend? Detroit and Pittsburgh.
I’m telling you now, it’s down to us and them. You think ‘08 and ‘09 was stressful? We haven’t seen jack squat. Whatever happens over the next ten days or so is literally more important than either series three and four years ago. Whoever wins this particular battle for these two players will determine at least two Cups over the next five years.
Shero made it known last night. He’s clearing space and the shady little bastard has his eyes set on our guys.
Kenny, they’re doing it again. The Pens. Just when you thought we’d gotten rid of them, they’re back.
It’s only your legacy at stake, Kenny. And our future. Tick Tock. Spare no expense. I’m serious. Capgeek, and god I love that site, says we have 24 million to spend. Khan(!) keeps saying it’s less than that and I have no idea why. Either way, spend it all, sugarfoot. Every. Last. Dime.
I’ve said it for years. There are two “elite” organ-I-zations in this league. One of them is going to get a whole lot better in the next couple weeks. Two best teams, two best players, two best coaches and now we’ll see who has the Best GM.
Well, Kenny?