Here we are in the part of the NHL season where things change. Yes, it's time for Free Agency. Every year there is on star player that is number one on every teams list of players to sign. This year it was the New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise.
As a Devils fan, I really wasn't looking forward to July 1st. Knowing the possibility and very likely hood Zach Parise was gonna be signing somewhere else. July 1st came and went and nothing, Hockey reporters camping outside Parise's agent's office just waiting for the word he had signed somewhere. July 2nd came and word from the "Parise camp" came out that teams have shown great interest and no decision was made. But, in the age of Twitter and Facebook there are no secrets. Speculations on what teams were in the running for Zach Parise was out for everyone to speculate on.
July 3rd comes and rumors are there will be a decision today. I immediately txt one of my close twitter friends and ask if she could txt me if there was a decision while I was at work. At 11:43 am I get a txt message my heart stops, Devils sign Bryce Salvadore 3 years $9.5 million. After a brief sigh of relief, I start pondering the pros and cons of the signing. At 2pm I get home, send a txt msg "I'm home, Thanks for the update." Open up Tweetdeck and browse through TSN reporters tweets, no word on Zach Parise. At 4:45pm, there is word Parise will be making an announcement in 5 mins. I quickly turn on the NHL Network on and they are replaying a playoff game so, I turn to my satellite radio to the NHL station and wait. Minutes after 5pm, word comes from Parise that he hasn't made a decision and he is going home to sleep on it. Once again I go back to weighing the pros and cons of the no-decision announcement.
July 4th comes and rumors of Ryan Suter will be making an announcement on where he'll be playing in the future. Now, it was no secret the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise were close friends and looking to play together. At 11:30am I'm at my desk glued to the computer screen. Noon comes and the news breaks, Ryan Suter has signed to play for the Minnesota Wild. I knew what was coming next and sure enough, Zach Parise has officially signed to play with the Minnesota Wild.
Twitter explodes from mostly New Jersey Devils fans, most of them pissed that their captain has left. A lot of tweets calling Parise "greedy" or "a liar." Which brings me back to July 1st, when the Devils goaltender of 18yrs Martin Brodeur went to "test free agency."
Back on June 11th after losing 6-1 in final game of the Stanley Cup Final, Martin Brodeur stated (I don't have the exact quote) "He wouldn't make a decision till July 1st but he's always been a New Jersey Devil and always would be." Days leading up to July 1st word comes out that Brodeur has hired an agent for the first time in career. July 1st comes and the rumors of teams interested in signing Brodeur comes out. As the day progresses Devils fans speculate on there is a chance that Brodeur will sign elsewhere, then who's gonna be the Devils goaltender for the upcoming season. Scott Clemmensen and Johan Hedberg are the two names that come up the most.
I wake up on July 2nd to find out Brodeur has signed a 2yr $9 million contract. As the day progresses I find out from TSN that the Devils had originally only offered Brodeur a 1yr contract and 3 teams had offered him a 2yr contract.
In my opinion he basically forced the Devils into offering a 2yr contract. Yes, Brodeur deserves to get what he wants but, at what cost.
The same people who were speculating that there was a chance Brodeur could be gone, and days later would call Zach Parise "greedy and a liar" suddenly, were tweeting "I knew he wasn't going anywhere" "Glad Brodeur is back for another 2 yrs"
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. When a player from your team leaves, fans will turn on them at the drop of a dime. When a player from your team gets what he wants and stays, they can do no wrong.
I've been a sports fan since I was 10 yrs old. I've seen players come and go. I've never thought that someone was being greedy for leaving my favorite team. If someone offered me more money to do the same job that I'm doing, I would probably take it.
In closing, I'd like to thank, Director Kevin Smith for giving me the inspiration to write this
