Mind Made Up Already?

Was Zach Parise headed to Minnesota with or without a competitive offer from Lou Lamoriello? (Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE)

It’s difficult to not dwell on positive and negative events of circumstances, but they tend to naturally occur without a thought of preventing them. Whether the consensus of Devils fans feels Zach Parise’s departure was for better or for worse of the team collective, reflecting on some spoken words from Lou Lamoriello have to make you wonder about whether Parise’s heart was intent on departing to Minnesota.

The Devils official website released an audio interview with the Devils’ GM regarding talks with Parise about returning to New Jersey (heard here.) With consideration for those who were interested in seeing Parise return with a reasonable or unreasonable price tag, the interview makes you wonder if Parise had his mind made up prior to receiving any offer from Lamoriello.

Lamoriello’s first question was, “Do you believe your offer was competitive with what he (Parise) accepted?” His response indicated that the offer was competitive despite a number not being disclosed, but it was what Lamoriello added to the response that has to keep those who wanted him to return wondering.

“We did not have, at any time, have a phone call that we needed to change it (the contract offer) or it had to go up so it was competitive,” Lou said.

Thinking about that response, and while objectively considering Parise and his agent might have their own response to Lamoriello’s, you can’t help but think Zach was already Minnesota bound in his own mind. In addition to Lamoriello’s first response, he added that there was never a talk about money after their initial meeting.

It is quite difficult to be a man of either Parise’s or Lamoriello’s publicity and distort any factual information and/or blatantly lie about major details and implications. Though every Devilish heart should believe in the CEO and General Manager of the beloved New Jersey team, how easy could it be for him to do as such anyway?

It isn’t a question that Parise’s implication was a long-term contract featuring a large sum of money for the hard-working demeanor he and many feel he’s facilitated for 7 years. Nonetheless, some may feel he was less than sincere when he discussed how much he loved playing in New Jersey and implied he wouldn’t want to play anywhere else.

For that sum of some, you have a point to feel as such. However, it doesn’t exactly indicate Parise is a liar. Opinions and feelings are rendered daily, even hourly, in all of us, in a variety of circumstances. There is an absolute factor of thinking much more deeply about your statements prior to making them, but not all of us can say we are prompted by abrupt questions from reporters and the like about future contract negotiations.

Of course, the next question is did Parise know he was going to receive an offer from the Wild while he was asked if he would return to the Devils? This may render a little bit stronger of a feeling if the answer was yes, but there is hardly a way of knowing unless Parise confesses to such information.

However the circumstances may or may not have been played out, what we actually know is vague. For those who aren’t bitter, there are best of wishes to Zach and his new club. The Devils aren’t unlike any other professional sports team, or any individual, who must make adjustments according to the way circumstances pan out.

It may work for the better, it may work for the worst, but at the end of the day, we all must adhere to the changes that inevitably endure.

Follow Sean McDermott on Twitter @HEYYuSUCK