The Minnesota Wild are buying out the remaining four years on each of the contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the team announced Tuesday.
“Zach and Ryan have been an integral part of the Wild’s success over the past nine years and we’ll always be grateful for their many contributions,” said general manager Bill Guerin in a press release. “There were numerous factors that entered into the difficult decision to buy out their contracts, but primarily these moves are a continuation of the transformation of our roster aimed at the eventual goal of winning a Stanley Cup.”
“I want to thank Zach and Ryan for everything they did for our organization over the past nine seasons, both on and off the ice,” said owner Craig Leipold. “They were tremendous ambassadors for our team and helped us win a lot of games. I wish them nothing but the best going forward.”
The news was first reported by The Athletic‘s Michael Russo. Per Russo, Guerin called the veteran stars to inform them of the decision. The pair will become free agents on July 28.
The move will see the Wild pay both players $6.7 million over the next eight years. The team will be saddled with $2.371 million, $6.371 million and $7.371 million cap hits in the next four years, respectively, for each, then $833,333 cap hits the four years after that for each.
It will also open up $10.33 million in cap space, per Russo, as the organization looks to re-sign rookie sensation Kirill Kaprizov and star Kevin Fiala.
The Wild made a huge splash in the 2012 off-season, signing both free agent American stars, including Minneapolis product Parise, to 13-year, $98-million deals.
During their nine seasons in Minnesota, the Wild advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times and put up a 354-237-74 record.
Parise, 36, had 18 points in 45 games last season, totalling 400 points in 558 regular-season games in a Wild uniform.
Suter, also 36, had 19 points across 56 games in 2020-21, putting up 369 in 656 contests with Minnesota.
