Zach Parise rated number two Free Agent

Zach Parise prepares to start in a game for the New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here are the top 12 unrestricted free agents according to Ryan Porth – Sportsnet.CA

1. Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators

2. Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils

2011-12 salary: $6 million

As for Parise, he may be the best free-agent forward since teammate Kovalchuk signed his 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils two summers ago. Despite coming off major knee surgery, Parise scored 31 goals in 2011-12 -- his fifth 30-goal campaign since the lockout -- and was a factor in getting the Devils to their first Stanley Cup final since 2003. Some pundits doubt the Devils have the goods to match any contract offer Parise would receive in the frenzy. Like Suter in Nashville, it comes down to Parise’s commitment level to the Devils, the only organization he has ever known. Parise is the captain of the Devils and the heartbeat of the offense, but money speaks volumes.

3. Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals

4. Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes

5. Jaromir Jagr, Philadelphia Flyers

6. Jason Garrison, Florida Panthers

7. Matt Carle, Philadelphia Flyers

8. Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flames

9. Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals

10. Dustin Penner, Los Angeles Kings

11. P.A. Parenteau, New York Islanders

12. Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild

Can Mike Smith be fined for his post game comments?

After listening to Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's post game comments the first thing that came to mind was, the NHL could levy a fine against Smith for his post game comments about the officials. 

I will be the first one to admit that the NHL on ice officiating has been really poor during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, but everyone has has had to play through it. In this series, the Kings were the better team, the Coyotes had no answer for the Kings speed through the neutral zone. The Kings also played a high pressure game and gave the Coyotes little in the way of offensive chances maybe Smith should give credit where credit is due.  There is a time to just say congrats to the other team and move on with your life and not look like a whiner. 

You can listen to the audio of the post game interview, you will hear that Smith was highly critical of the on ice officials in this game and series. I always said, win with class and you lose with class as well. 

"It's even more disappointing," Smith said. Not only did we get beat by them [Kings]... "We got beat by the officials too." 

[click to listen to his post game comments]

Shane Doan's second goal

Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan scored two big goals to help the Coyotes beat the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 2-0 to extend the Western Conference Finals series between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings. With the victory last night by the Coyotes in Los Angeles, game five is tomorrow night at 8:00 PM Central in Glendale, Arizona, at Jobing.com Arena.

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