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 forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter.
“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.
Ryan Suter
Zach Parise
(info and photos courtesy of Wild)