Minnesota Wild

The two biggest free agents on the market this summer have made their decision, and their decision is Minnesota.

It was announced early Tuesday afternoon that both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter have agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild, both for 13-year, $98 million deals.

Parise, the former captain of the New Jersey Devils, scored 404 points in 502 games over seven seasons with the Devils. After suffering from a season-ending injury last season, he had a successful comeback season, with 69 points in 82 games. He led his team to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Kings.

While Zach Parise and Ryan Suter remain unsigned, the Minnesota Wild added needed depth as free agency began Sunday. Here's what fans can expect from center Zenon Konopka and right winger Torrey Mitchell.
 

Zenon Konopka- Konopka's role is simple: protect stars Dany Heatley and Mikko Koivu.

Via Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

"Koivu is a superstar that maybe doesn’t get enough respect around the league and he should," Konopka said. "Heatley is a world-class player and we have to make sure those guys are taken care of and they feel very comfortable and nice. If they want to sit down at center ice and read the paper, ...

In their short existence, the Wild's biggest foray into free agency was losing Marian Gaborik to it in 2009. But after their most disappointing season yet and without a playoff series victory since 2003, the Wild are preparing to make big moves come July 1. They hope home cooking will help.

Both New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise and Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter have ties to the Twin Cities area. Parise, the son of former North Star great J.P., grew up in Minneapolis and attended the famed Shattuck St. Mary's High School south of the Twin Cities.

Although Ryan Suter himself hails from Madison, Wisconsin (where he played his college hockey for the Badger...

 

With the No. 7 selection the Minnesota Wild have selected Matthew Dumba. Dumba, 17, is coming off a productive season with the Red Deer Rebels in theWestern Hockey League. The six-foot, 183-pound offensive defenseman notched 20 goals and 57 points in 69games. Said to model his game after Dion Phaneuf, the Calgary-native ranked second ingoals among defensemen in the WHL, but played five fewer games than the leader,James Bettauer, who scored 21 goals. Dumba, a right-handed shooter, had a 31-point increase compared to his 2010-11campaign, in which he produced a respectable 15 goals and 26 points in 62 games. A physical defenseman that won’t shy away f...