Report: Stanley Cup champion Kings will target Devils captain Zach Parise

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun writes that the newly crowned Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings already have a plan in place to defend their title: the signing of New Jersey Devils winger Zach Parise. "The captain of the New Jersey Devils is No. 1 on their off-season shopping list," Simmons writes. "They want Parise, as do many teams, and they want him badly."

It's unclear if Simmons has a source for this intel or if he is just connecting the dots, but he gives a plausible explanation as to why Parise might be interested in the cross-country move.

While Parise has yet to speak openly about his future, the word that has filtered down to NHL general managers is that his No. 1 consideration in choosing a location next year is finding a team that just won’t challenge for the Stanley Cup next year, but will challenge every year.

The Kings, Simmons writes, will return much of their roster next season and are $16 million under the salary cap, setting them up for a long run.