Parrish is no longer Wild

The Wild announced last night that they are buying out the rest of Mark Parrish’s contract. With three years left on his five year contract the 31-year-old Minnesota native is now a free agent after quickly clearing waivers. Amid cap concerns with Wild management this moves clears up around $2.5 million for the current season, as the team will likely opt to pay the buy out over a series of six years (as is a standard option in NHL contract buyouts). A few teams have already expressed interest in Parrish via his agent, and will likely get him at a steal as the preseason is about to begin and he cleared waivers securing the need for a Wild buyout.

This move, though it makes sense with the salary concerns, paves the way for their negotiations with forward Marian Gaborik. They likely needed the room to offer Gabby a pay raise, or they may be toying with the idea of signing another C class forward to fill the hole Parrish will leave. Parrish was benched repeatedly last season and was certainly not at the top of his game. After only allowing two years of his contract to expire before deciding they no longer required his services the Wild will have room to fill, which may be taken up by a younger player from Development Camp, as there were many young players there who seem to have made a positive impression on GM Doug Riseborough.

~ by minnesotawildtimes on July 30, 2008.