Although the two sides had been working on a multi-year contract since Parise became a restricted free agent on July 1st, Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello explained that a one-year agreement was reached in order to avoid the upcoming hearing, and a multi-year contract extension is still in the works. Tom Guilitti has more:
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said the sides will continue to work with Parise toward a long-term agreement. According to the collective bargaining agreement, Parise will not be allowed to sign a contract beginning in the 2012-13 season until Jan. 1, 2012. The sides can negotiate and agree upon a deal before then, but they cannot sign it or make it official.
Parise, who turned 27 on Thursday, remains eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2012.
“Once you go to arbitration, you can only get a one-year situation in this case,” Lamoriello said. “So, really what we have done is avoid arbitration by settling on one year with the understanding and intent to take whatever time is necessary to get a long-term deal.”With the NHL season canceled due to the 2004-05 lockout, Parise spent his first pro season with the River Rats, registering 18 goals and 40 assists over 73 games for Albany. He joined the Devils the following season and has been one of their top players ever since, recording 163 goals and 178 assists for 341 points over 420 games for New Jersey between 2005 and 2011.
Parise's best offensive season came in 2008-09 when he put up 45 goals and 49 assists for 94 points in 82 games for the Devils. Last season he appeared in only 13 games for New Jersey, recording just 3 goals and 3 assists during a season plagued by a knee injury which required surgery.
Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.
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