Parise: No interest in Rangers deal

Devils captain Zach Parise said Wednesday he would not consider crossing the Hudson River and signing with the Rangers when he becomes a free agent next month.

Parise has been a part of the Rangers-Devils rivalry since joining New Jersey in 2005.

Parise cautioned "don't try to get a headline out of that," and twice said "No," when asked about the Rangers.

The 27-year-old said he is interested in re-signing with the Devils, who beat the Rangers in six games in the Eastern Conference finals before losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Kings.

Parise's father, J.P., told the Minneapolis Star Tribune during the playoffs his son would "fit right in" with the Rangers.

Parise, who was picked by the Devils with the 17th pick in the 2003 entry draft, has 194 goals and 216 assists in his seven years with the team. The Minneapolis native missed most of last season with a torn meniscus in his knee, but played in all 82 games this season.

The Rangers and GM Glen Sather could have a greater sense of urgency to sign a winger, since Marian Gaborik will miss the start of next season because of recent shoulder surgery.

The last time the Rangers signed a big name away from the Devils was in 2007 when they inked Scott Gomez to a seven-year, $51.5 million deal. Gomez struggled in two seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Canadiens.