Ryan Suter to Wild: How Will D-Man and Winger Zach Parise Fare in 1st Season?

After much debate about where D Ryan Suter and LW talent Zach Parise would end up, it is official that both will now be joining the Minnesota Wild.

According to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo, not only did the Wild sign Suter, but they have also signed Parise as well. The two will undoubtedly make for a much-needed lethal combination in Minnesota.

"In one of the most monumental days in Minnesota hockey history -- and indisputably Wild history -- the hometown team shook the foundation of the National Hockey League on Wednesday by landing its hottest two free agents: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter," Russo wrote.

The Wild also tweeted news of the transaction upon it becoming official:

"

BREAKING: WE GOT 'EM! Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are coming to the #mnwild! More to come. After you exhale, RT to #WelcomeZachAndRyan

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) July 4, 2012"

Bringing in both of these top-notch free agents is exactly what a team like the Wild needed to do this offseason. The team was just 35-36-11 last season, and they were a mere 11-12-1 in the Northwest. What made for their immense struggles last season was a lack of execution up front.

Last season, the team was as poor as any in hockey when it came to scoring. The team's average of two goals a contest was easily the worst in the NHL. If not for a defense that ranked among the top half of the league (2.6 goals allowed per contest), the Wild would have been among the league's worst teams.

Suter posted an impressive seven goals and 39 assists last season. He boasts an impressive ability to create scoring chances in spite of being a defenseman. Parise, meanwhile, was one of the more solid LW threats in the league, scoring 31 goals and recording 38 assists last season.

This boost in the goal-scoring department will undoubtedly give this team a chance to compete with the best of them in the East. Boasting one of the more impressive free-agency periods of any team, the Wild are off to a tremendous start this offseason.