Ryan Suter Signs With Minnesota Wild, According To Report

Zach Parise, Ryan Suter Deals Watershed Moment For Wild

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.

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.

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.

No Timetable For Ryan Suter's Free Agency Decision

Ryan Suter has not made a decision on which lucrative offer to accept from an NHL club in free agency, according to his agent speaking Monday evening to the media.

"There will be no decision on Ryan Suter [Monday] and there is no timetable for his contract signing at this time," said Suter's agent, Neil Sheehy, in a memo released to the media. "Ryan is considering his opportunities and is taking the necessary time to give each proper consideration."

Suter's reportedly weighing offers from multiple NHL teams including the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and, of course, the team that would love to retain his services, the Nashville Predators. Offers are reportedly in the ballpark of 10 to 12 years in length and around $100 million.

By waiting to make his decision, Suter's essentially holding up the entire free agent market. Fellow defensemen such as Matt Carle are waiting in the wings, ready to sign with teams that miss out on Suter's services, but teams are reluctant to make a decision without knowing where Suter will go. Until he makes a choice, the entire league is in a holding pattern.

Ryan Suter Rumors: Red Wings Reportedly Offer $90 Million Over 12 Years

Ryan Suter, one of the prizes of the 2012 NHL free agency period, has a big decision to make. He's also got a lot of money on his table, thanks to a contract offer from one of the league's premier franchises: Suter is reportedly weighing a $90 million deal from the Detroit Red Wings.

Suter became one of the NHL's best defensemen in his time in Nashville, and has at least 37 points in each of his last four seasons, including a career-high 46 points in 2011-12. But the Red Wings dangling $90 million, spread over a 12-year deal that will last until Suter is 39, might be enough to get him to switch jerseys in the Central Division.

Suter might also join another former Predator in the Motor City. Jordin Tootoo shocked the Music City when he signed with Detroit on Sunday, leaving the Preds fans at On The Forecheck more than a little miffed. Suter following suit would be a bit more predictable, but could be just as devastating.

For more on the Red Wings, hit Winging It in Motown and SB Nation Detroit.

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.

Ryan Suter May Wait Until After July 1 To Make Free Agency Decision

Ryan Suter may wait until after July 1 to make his decision in free agency.