Hey Zach - Want To Know Why You Should Pick Detroit?
Hey Mr. Parise? Mind if I call you Zach? There's a million reasons out there why you should pick Detroit over New Jersey (and the rest of the field). But I'd like to introduce you to a guy who's been there before. He's another another American, a fellow Olympian that you probably know pretty well. He made a similar decision not that long ago and would like to talk to you about it. Zach, meet Mr. Brian Rafalski.
Brian Rafalski was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils before joining his hometown Red Wings and winning the NHL title two days ago.
While all three championships were special, the victory celebrations don't compare, the defenseman from Dearborn said.
Rafalski was asked if Friday's parade was like the 2000 and 2003 Cup celebrations in New Jersey that were held on the sprawling blacktop outside the team's former arena.
"It's way better than a parking lot," he joked.
Not convinced yet Zach? Hit the jump for more.If you come here Zach, you will be a center of a future Stanley Cup champion. Mr. Illitch (and his entire management team) guarentees no less. So, not even taking into consideration of the fact you'll get to play in the Winter Classic, on a line with Pavel Datsyuk, on the strongest franchise in sports, when you do finally lift the Cup in Red and White, do you want the support of the entire city, state, and much of the nation behind you as you become a sports legend? Or do you want to do it in with the heat and fumes of a parking lot radiating around you in New Jersey?
Think about it. Talk to your buddy Suter too.
I know we all hate the Pens, but this is simply some food for thought, because this guy can grind, and he can score.
@moorecha @ShaneRozeveld Would you want to give up Val for him? Val had more points last season. Though did play 21 games more I suppose. Stil Staal has never score more than 29, and when he plays full seasons he hasnt scored even that.
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@Reddy @moorecha @ShaneRozeveld that's with a lot of third line minutes, though. i don't watch many pens games, but isn't tyler kennedy on his wing? lol. also, staal was one of the only guys worth a damn in their first round fail this year. and he hits. i feel confident/dirty saying that staal > val.
unless you're talking aboot looks, because those staal brothers jumped off the ugly tree, hit every branch, then climbed up for another round.
"There's a million reasons out there why you should pick Detroit over New Jersey" - more like 7 or 8 million, LOL M I RITE!
But seriously, I totally agree. Only thing I could say in retort, to sort of play the devil's advocate, is that in New Jersey if he were to win the Cup, he gets to lift it first as the Captain. In Detroit, he'll have to watch Zetterberg lift it first, and then hand it off to whomever he wants to.
Not that Parise wouldn't be welcomed and adored in Detroit, but he's going to have to give up the C to someone else.
@RedWings3RDP I don't think he'll care, if anything it'll be some added pressure he won't need to deal with.
@Reddy If he has the leadership qualities he's alleged to have, and qualities the Red Wings want him for, then he wants to lead.
@Reddy @moorecha For Red Wings fans, absolutely. But Zach Parise isn't a Red Wings fan. He's a professional hockey player currently under contract with the New Jersey Devils.
I tweeted that there is something to be said for being a part of a city's favorite sports franchise (or at least, one of its favorites) as opposed to the red headed step child of the group as is the case in the NY/NJ area, and I stand by that. Hopefully that kind of rich tradition will help to allure Parise to Detroit. But let's keep our hopes about this realistic.
