Devils Star Zach Parise Could Receive Wild Offer
Fitzgerald Cecilio

Zach Parise (Photo by flickr/cubesbyamanda)

Newark, NJ

The Minnesota Wild will aggressively pursue New Jersey Devils captain and incoming free-agent winger Zach Parise, a reliable league source reported.

Parise, 27, is reportedly bound to pocket biggest money available for free-agents this offseason if he decides to sign with the Wild.

"I had dinner with [Wild owner] Craig Leipold on Wednesday night," Wild manager Lou Nanne told Sports Illustrated Thursday. "I know Chuck Fletcher and Leipold really want Parise, and what Craig told me is how hard he's going to go after him, and the kind of money he's going after him [with] — I don't see how Parise's not coming here.

Nanne did not specify the exact amount of the offer but nevertheless claim it's very hard to refuse.

"In confidence of him, I'm not going to say the figure — but it's going to be plenty. It is going to be a lot more than I ever expected and you will find out, because once July 1st comes, you'll be aware of the numbers. It is going to be so substantial that I cannot see Zach Parise turning it down."

The Wild can spend roughly $21 million for free-agents this offseason, allowing them to boost their lineup.

Parise, who helped the Devils reach the 2012 Stanley Cup finals, did not downplay the possibility of returning to the Devils but insisted he won't sign with the rival New York Rangers.

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