In the end, there was nothing the New Jersey Devils could have done to keep Zach Parise, short of changing every state sign to read: "Welcome to Minnesota," writes Rich Chere of New Jersey's Star-Ledger.
Devils beat writer Chere continued: Parise called himself "a loyal person," a description some broken-hearted Devils fans might dispute. But the 27-year-old left winger said today the only reason he is leaving the Devils is to play in his home state of Minnesota and with longtime pal and fellow free agent Ryan Suter.
Josh Cooper writes in the Nashville Tennessean on the Predators losing Suter:
"I think disappointment would not adequately describe the word I would like to choose," Predators general manager David Poile said. "Disappointed and little surprised based on all the conversations we've had."
Poile said the Predators were not given a last chance to match the Wild's reported offer of 13 years at $98 million. "We asked him what the reason was and he said it was for family reasons," Poile said.
