Scott Parse
Believe it or not, there is other news today. There's even a game tonight, and the Sharks lead the Kings 1-0 at the moment. But amid all the Jack Johnson celebration, there's a bit of interesting news. Scott Parse signed an amateur-tryout deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Parse, a sixth-round pick by the Kings in 2004, is a big-time NCAA scorer out of Nebraska-Omaha and a two-time Hobey Baker finalist. The fact that he's signing with another team's affiliate, instead of with the Kings, doesn't look good at face value. It could just be a move intended to get him on the ice while he negotiates with the Kings, or it could be a sign of trouble between Parse and the Kings. I'll ask Dean Lombardi about this tomorrow and try to get an answer.
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About Rich Hammond
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Thanks for all the updates. I just now found this site. I'm surprised more people don't comment here because this is probably some of the most in-depth coverage of the Kings. I imagine it has something to do with many people not knowing about it at all. Keep up the good work.
It'll be interesting to hear what Lombardi has to say about Parse, because Lombardi's always been very candid.
Thanks for all the info on Johnson. I hope they can figure things out with Parse.
Thanks, to everyone who has commented in the last couple days, for the kind words. We're working on expanding this site, updating it more frequently and adding some new features during the offseason. Check back frequently and spread the word. Thanks...
Isn't this tampering (or at least very close)? If Detroit's farm team signs someone Detroit doesn't have rights to? If & when Parse becomes a free agent (at the end of summer I think, if he doesn't sign with the Kings), it would seem Detroit has the inside track and would have induced him not to sign with the Kings. I'm curious what Lombardi's take is on it (and if he placed an angry call to Ken Holland).
JD...the problem there is that Grand Rapids is not strictly ``Detroit's farm team.'' It's an AHL team that has an affiliation with Detroit, and also with Edmonton, which is something I should have mentioned. Now, why did Parse choose that particular team? Good question. But in a strict sense, he signed an amateur-tryout deal with that particular team, not the Detroit organization.
this is NOT a precedent setting move, but I am going to have to comb through hockeydb.com to figure out the other player(s) that have signed ATO's with other minor league clubs than the ones that are operated by the team's that drafted them. I'm just obsessive enough to do that, but I KNOW for certain Parse isn't the first.
I am hoping this gets worked out quickly. I think Parse would be a good addition to Manchester and hopefully the Kings if all works out.
Great job as always Rich!
Marc: If you find any, let me know. I'm curious as well.
Scott signed w/ GR because he is from Kalamazoo and wanted to be close to home. He wanted to get a deal done with LA but they were offering him less than average of a rookie deal. I think since the management shake up they let Scott fall through the cracks.
If he does well in GR (which he had an assist & SO game winner his first game) LA will come on board. Also Detroit is too deep so it may take some time before Scott gets to the bigs. Not to slam the kings but he has a better chance making the kings next season than he would the wings. I don't know why people can't see how good this guy really is. If LA doesn't sign him by the deadline, mgmt should get use to mediocrity for a long time.