Devils re-sign Parise, add Barr to coaching staff

The Devils hope that Zach Parise will be celebrating many
goals in 2011-12 and beyond.

Once Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello traded the heavily-paided veteran Brian Rolston to the Islanders to clear cap space, things fell into place for the team.  Today, star forward Zach Parise was signed to a one-year, $6 million deal, which avoids arbitration and will make Parise an unrestricted free agent next summer, unless a long-term deal is reached by July 1st, 2012.  As Tom Gulitti reports, Parise, his agent (Jason Arnott's brother, Wade) and Lamoriello will continue to work towards a long-term contract once the NHL's current Collective Bargaining Agreement permits further negotiation with the player, which would be January 1st, 2012.

Parise played just 13 games last season due to a meniscus injury.  He posted three goals and three assists in those 13 games, but posted seasons of 94 and 82 points before the 2010-11 season.  He entered this off-season as a restricted free agent, but Lamoriello quickly scheduled an arbitration hearing to avoid any risk of Parise being signed by another team through an offer sheet.  The Devils did clear $3 million plus of cap space with the trade of Rolston to the Islanders for forward Trent Hunter, and are left with approximately $1.96 million of available cap space with Parise signed.

Signing Parise to a one-year deal clearly avoids arbitration, which Gulitti quoted Lamoriello as wanting to avoid, and also benefits the Devils, as well as Parise, in terms of avoiding the risk of another injury.  Parise will be able to prove his long-term value to the Devils and the Devils are able to avoid wasting money long-term on Parise, should an injury re-occur.


Lamoriello also announced that ex-NHLer Dave Barr will join the Devils' coaching staff.  He joins head coach Pete DeBoer, assistants Larry Robinson and Adam Oates as well as goaltending coach Chris Terreri.  Lamoriello said that DeBoer will decide the assistants' roles.  DeBoer has spoken with each of the assistants and wants Robinson and Oates to return to the team next season.  Barr played for the Devils from 1991 to 1993.

(Picture from http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/QFHJqJ_7Dzq/Phoenix+Coyotes+v+New+Jersey+Devils/rLtNBLrL2yZ/Zach+Parise)