Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Sign 13-Year, $98 Million Deals With Wild

Do Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Make Minnesota Wild Contenders?

Ryan Suter and Zach Parise joining the Minnesota Wild doesn't mean they are Stanley Cup contenders, but it does mean they are part of the playoff conversation -- which is half the battle.

Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Deals Watershed Moment For Wild

Minnesota Wild Taking Full Advantage Of Big Free Agent Signings

Ryan Suter Cites 'Family Reasons' In Decision To Join Wild

Ryan Suter signed with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, joining Zach Parise in inking a 13-year, $98 million contract. While the money is no doubt nice, Suter apparently had other reasons to move on from the Nashville Predators to Minneapolis. Preds' general manager and president David Poile said that Suter's decision didn't come down to money.

Poile: #Preds did not get a chance to match Minnesota's offer, it didn't come down to money, says Suter cited "family reasons".

— Dirk Hoag (@Forechecker) July 4, 2012

Suter was born in Oregon, Wisc., and will be much closer to home as a result of his new deal. Still, Predators can't feel much better after the news. Suter spent seven seasons in Nashville, recording 238 points in 542 games played.

For more on Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and NHL free agency, be sure to stick to this StoryStream and SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub. For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. For more on the Predators, head over to On The Forecheck.

Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Sign With Wild: Reactions To The Blockbuster Contracts

Zach Parise signed a 13-year, $98 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, and the reaction has been swift from the blogosphere. Within minutes, the Wild had also signed Ryan Suter to similar terms. Suffice it to say, Wild fans are pleased with having picked up the two biggest names of the 2012 NHL free agency period.

Via Hockey Wilderness:

The Minnesota Wild have agreed to terms with not one, but both of the big free agents this summer. This, from multiple sources on Twitter including Russo, ESPN, and basically everyone in the world. This is, without a doubt, the biggest day in the history of the franchise, and the Wild have to immediately begin to be thought of as not only a playoff team, but a real threat.

Ryan Suter. Zach Parise. Minnesota Wild.

Let that soak in for a minute Wild fans. Take a moment out of your Independence Day celebrations and celebrate the fact that the Wild actually do exist. Take a moment, then try to put your feelings into words and tell your thoughts on these two rather massive signings.

The Detroit Red Wings meanwhile, long used to getting their way in free agency, lost out on both stars. Now the team turns to second-tier options.

Via Winging It In Motown:

So Kenny missed. There are still options out there, but none as attractive as these two. It looks like it came down to them wanting to play together and the Wild offered a better package deal for the two than Detroit could. Lament the end of the Wings being the premier destination, scream at Kenny Holland, do whatever, just don't kill each other.

For more on Zach Parise and NHL free agency, be sure to stick to this StoryStream and SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub. For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness.

Ryan Suter Contract Worth $98 Million Over 13 Seasons

Ryan Suter is a member of the Minnesota Wild, the 12-year old organization that's made him a very rich man on July 4. According to multiple reports, Suter's contract with the club is 13 years in length -- longer than the entire history of the Wild, who were born in 2000 -- worth $98 million. It's the same exact contract as the one given to Zach Parise.

According to The Tennessean, the Nashville Predators lobbied hard to get Suter to remain in town. General manager David Poile offered up a hefty 13 year, $90 million contract, but that just couldn't match the Minnesota offer.

Predators blog On the Forecheck is trying to stay optimistic about the news that one of their two blue-chip defensemen, born and raised in the organization, have left town for good.

This isn't a mortal blow to the franchise, however. We've seen tough times in the past (I'm talking about REALLY tough times), and the organization rallied to maintain their competitive position in the Western Conference. Thanks to the relatively narrow band between the salary cap and floor (the range goes from $70.2M to $56.2M, a far cry from the $20-80M range we saw prior to the lockout) the Predators will certainly bring in a name player or two over the coming weeks & months.

For more on the shocking, franchise-altering day for the Minnesota Wild, check in with SB Nation Minnesota and Hockey Wilderness.

Zach Parise Signs 13-Year Contract With Minnesota Wild

Zach Parise signed a 13-year contract with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, ending one of the most closely watched free agencies of the offseason. According to sources, Parise's deal will be worth $98 million, or about $7.5 million per season.

Zach Parise has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 4, 2012

Parise captained the New Jersey Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals this past season with 69 points on 31 goals and 38 assists during the regular season. He will join Ryan Suter in what should be a much-improved Wild squad.

Parise was considering re-signing with the Devils, as well latching on to another Stanley Cup contender like the Detroit Red Wings or the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the end, he chose to return to his hometown, Minneapolis.

For more on Zach Parise and NHL free agency, be sure to stick to this StoryStream and SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub. For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness.

Ryan Suter Signs 13-Year Contract With Minnesota Wild

Prized free agent defenseman Ryan Suter is a member of the Minnesota Wild. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the franchise has won the bidding on Suter's services with a 13 year contract. Financial terms were not immediately reported.

He'll join prized free agent forward Zach Parise, who's returning home to Minnesota as well. Quite the coup for the 12 year old franchise and general manager Chuck Fletcher.

Suter, 27, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Nashville Predators organization. The defenseman scored seven goals and 39 assists with the Preds in 2011-12, keying their top pairing alongside fellow All-Star defenseman Shea Weber.

The Wisconsin-native is familiar with the Upper Midwest region, playing his youth hockey in the state, college hockey at Wisconsin and AHL hockey at Milwaukee.

In 2008, Suter signed a four-year deal to stay in Nashville, a deal that expired this past year. He earned $3.5 million per season against the cap on that deal, and will likely earn much more than that on this new contract. It's expected the deal could reach near or north of $100 million over the course of the 13 seasons.

Suter passed up offers from a lot of the league's strongest franchises to sign in Minnesota, not known as one of the strongest NHL clubs. Powerhouses such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings were in hard on Suter.

For more on the Wild, check in with Hockey Wilderness and SB Nation Minnesota.

Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Expected To Make Free Agent Decision Today

Two of the biggest free agents in the NHL are expected to decide which team they will sign with on Wednesday. The agents for both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise indicated that their clients, two of the best American-born players in the game, will make their decisions on the Fourth of July. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reported the likely timing for Parise, through his agent:

Just heard from Wade Arnott, agent for Zach Parise: "Likely a decision today."

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) July 4, 2012

The agent for Suter, Paul Ostby, tweeted directly that his client planned to make his free agency decision during the holiday, via @SheehyHockey:

Client Ryan Suter plans on making a decision today.

—PAUL OSTBY (@SHEEHYHOCKEY) July 4, 2012

Every team in the NHL with cap space to do so would like to add Parise, the biggest name on the market this offseason. The most recent speculation is that both could land with the Minnesota Wild. In addition to the Wild, the Detroit Red Wings are also a potential landing spot for both Suter and Parise in a package deal.

For more on Zach Parise and NHL free agency, be sure to stick to this StoryStream and SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Zach Parise Decision Not Coming Tuesday Night

If you were eagerly awaiting free agent Zach Parise's decision on where he is going to play hockey next season, you can now go to bed and lay your head down softly on a pillow, as the highly sought-after winger will not make a decision on Tuesday night.

Text from Parise: "Nothing will happen tonight."

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) July 3, 2012

Many have been waiting for Parise to make a decision on which team he will sign with, as he reportedly has offers from the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings.

Parise has spent the entirety of his NHL career thus far with the Devils, who chose him with the 17th overall pick in the 2003 NHL draft, but will likely sign a big-time free agent deal somewhere else.

For more on Zach Parise and NHL free agency, be sure to stick to this StoryStream and SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Zach Parise Still Mulling Free Agency Offers, Doesn't Have Timetable For Decision

Zach Parise returned home to Minnesota Tuesday morning, telling the Minneapolis Star-Tribune at the airport that he's still mulling over the many offers he's received from NHL clubs since free agency opened on Sunday.

The 27-year-old said that the decision is much harder than he originally anticipated and that he's yet to discuss the various offers with his fiancee, talks that will likely take place when Parise settles in at his Minnesota home.

Parise has no timetable, says is "so much more than the money. That plays a very small part in it." #MNWild

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) July 3, 2012

Parise's decision is likely the biggest of his life, as it will likely dictate where he'll spend the rest of his hockey career. He's also deciding where he'll begin his married life and where he'll raise a family, not to mention the tens of millions of dollars that are likely complicating the decision as well.

Parise is reportedly corralling offers from the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings, among potential others.

Zach Parise Decision 'Probably' Coming Tuesday, According To Report

After Zach Parise told reporters Monday evening in Ontario that he's not rushing his free agency decision, the 27-year-old flew to his native Minnesota to discuss his options with family. Now, Parise could be ready to make Tuesday the big day, according to a report from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Zach Parise's camp says decision will "probably [be] later today" #mnwild #nhl #penguins #devils #redwings #blackhawks #flyers #anyoneelse

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) July 3, 2012

Parise's reportedly weighing hefty offers from his New Jersey Devils, the hometown Minnesota Wild, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings, among perhaps others. Those offers are expected to come in at 10-plus years and at least $80 million. Some offers may be as high as $100 million in value.

Various reports have claimed the Penguins as the front-runners for his services, but it seems as though Parise himself is conflicted on which destination he'll ultimately choose. It's a decision between the franchise that groomed him, the triumphant return home and the chance to play on what could be a veritable Dream Team in Pittsburgh, Detroit or elsewhere.

Zach Parise Taking His Time, Won't Make Free Agency Decision Monday

Zach Parise held a press conference Monday afternoon, telling reporters near Toronto that he's yet to make a decision on his NHL future. The 27-year-old Minnesota native fielded offers from several NHL teams Sunday after the opening of free agency and now he's taking the time to weigh the various options.

By all accounts, there are plenty of lucrative offers on the table, and for Parise, it's simply a matter of choosing his ultimate destination. It's not an easy decision choosing the town in which to play the next 10-plus years of one's career, and Parise is clearly taking his time in making the decision.

He told the assembled media that he hasn't set any deadlines with regards to his decision but that he is indeed getting closer. He also said that the New Jersey Devils are still in consideration.

The free agency market is at a stand-still waiting for both Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter to make their decisions. After teams are eliminated from the running, it will free them up to make offers to other 'Plan B' options.

The Busy, Yet Somehow Disappointing, First Day Of NHL Free Agency

The opening of NHL free agency Sunday was busy, but mostly a letdown as top targets Zach Parise and Ryan Suter took their time weighing offers.

Zach Parise Hopes To Stay With Devils, 'No Way' He Signs With Rangers

Zach Parise told the Bergen (N.J.) Record that he wants to play with the New Jersey Devils next season and that there is "no way" he signs with the New York Rangers this offseason.