Ryan Suter takes multiple shots at Wild in Stars’ press conference

On July 13th, the Minnesota Wild announced that the team will buy out the final four years of the contracts of forward Zach Parise and Suter. The Wild will pay each $6.7 million over the next eight years and be charged with $2.371 million, $6.371 million, $7.371 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.

This was a shocking news for Suter, who was talking to Parise about his contract buyout when he learned he was joining him. He was stunned and never saw it coming. 

Rival teams jumped at the chance to sign the veteran blue liner, who finally agree on opening day of free agency, to ink a deal with the Dallas Stars. He  agreed to sign a four-year contract, his cap hit will be $3.625M. 

On Friday, the 36-year-old met with reporters to explain what took place in Minnesota and how thrilled he is to join the Stars. As he answered questions, Suter never missed the chance to take shots at his former team. 

“When everything first happened, you’re in shock, I didn’t receive a call, I didn’t know what to say. I was in shock, I couldn’t believe it was happening. I know that I’ve played solid and I know that I have a lot more to give.”

And clearly teams out there also knew he had more in the tank as Suter explained how flattening it was - and stupid of the Wild - to get some many calls and interest from rival clubs. 

“Further along you think this is a great opportunity for me to pick a team that has a chance to win a Stanley Cup. I was telling (Jim) Nill that I feel like I’m 27 again with all of these teams calling and GMs from other teams really trying to get me to come there.

“And so you go from a low to an ultimate high as a player. As a professional athlete, you want to be wanted and it was very eye-opening to see all the options that we had.”

“To win a Stanley Cup would mean the world to me, and that’s what I’m going to Dallas to do.”

See the entire press conference here below: 

Take that, Minnesota! The 16-year NHL veteran spent the last nine years with the Wild.

A veteran of 1,198 career games over 17 seasons with the Nashville Predators and Wild, Suter saw the final four years of his 13-year deal with Minnesota bought out earlier this month after he appeared in 53 games last season, scoring three goals and adding 16 assists over 22:11 ice time a night.

Gotta love the attitude!