NHL: What the Addition of Zach Parise Means to Minnesota Wild

The New Jersey Devils were anything but happy when they found out that Zach Parise had signed with the Minnesota Wild for 13 years and $98 million.

Parise brings a lot to the table in Minnesota and Wild fans have much to look forward to. First and foremost, Parise was born in Minnesota, so his roots there run deep. This past season, Parise had 31 goals and 38 assists in 82 games.

Without Parise for much of the 2010-2011 season, the Devils failed to make the playoffs. This past season, New Jersey made it to the Stanley Cup finals, but lost to the Los Angeles Kings. Coincidence? Maybe, but not likely. Parise is an asset to any squad. He's fast, talented, has a killer slap-shot, and can prove to be a team leader.

The Wild failed to make the playoffs last season and finished 35-36-11. This upcoming season should be a lot different. Not only did the Wild sign Parise, but they also signed Ryan Suter to an identical deal. With both of these men newly added to the lineup, the Wild will be a newly feared team.

The Devils will struggle filling the shoes of their captain, but young star Adam Henrique will have to show the team how much he can really bring to the table.

The addition of Parise brings hope to a struggling Wild squad. A team that was hardly on the radar last season will come out firing during the 2012-2013 season, and it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone if they end up being contenders in the playoffs.