NHL free agency: Chase for Parise, Suter begins
Ryan Suter and Zach Parise chose to take time to sort through offers from a slew of suitors on the first day of NHL free agency.
“I don’t expect a quick decision,” Suter’s agent, Neil Sheehy, wrote in an email Sunday to the Associated Press.
Parise, meanwhile, said he thinks he’ll make a decision today after not signing a deal to stay with New Jersey and becoming a free agent.
“I’m not at liberty to say right now who’s in or anything like that,” Parise told reporters. “But just because it got to noon, by no means does that say that the Devils aren’t one of my top teams.”
P.A. Parenteau was among the many NHL free agents to agree to deals Sunday. Parenteau, a 29-year-old forward coming off a 67-point season with the New York Islanders, signed a four-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche just hours after hitting the market.
The Dallas Stars determined 40-year-old forward Ray Whitney, who played for the Spokane Chiefs more than 20 years ago, has enough left to give him a $9 million, two-year contract. He had 24 goals and 77 points last season for Phoenix and has 1,003 career points.
“Ray Whitney was among the most productive players in the league last season and showed he remains extremely capable and dangerous,” Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said. “He’s a winner, a competitor and a leader, and we’re very excited he’ll be a Dallas Star.”
Detroit coach Mike Babcock traveled to Toronto to be part of the franchise’s planned pitch to Parise, the top forward available, and the agency that represents him.
“We’re going to get in the mix with him and see what we can do,” Babcock said in a telephone interview minutes after teams could begin talks with free agents. “We’re going to do everything we can.”
The Red Wings, with $18 million in cap space, are also expected to make an aggressive push to sign Suter, the best defenseman on the market.
Teams will have to wait before simply finding out if they can have a face-to-face meeting with Suter.
Sheehy fielded “countless phone calls, emails and messages” from teams hoping to sign his coveted client. Sheey planned to respond to each team to gather more information before presenting options to Suter.