Suter, Parise still on market; Flyers driving up price?
Day 3 of free agency, and still no decision from Ryan Suter nor Zach Parise on when and where they'll sign the mega-buck deals they've been offered.
There were, however, several tweets out of Detroit and other markets asserting that Suter does not want to play in any city where media attention is overwhelming.
If that is indeed the case –- and we suspect there is truth to it -- then the Flyers are out of the picture, even though Suter’s agent, Neil Sheehy, has not publicly dismissed them.
The Flyers themselves say they are still in the hunt. Minnesota and Detroit met in person with Suter on Tuesday in the Midwest.
Smaller-markets Pittsburgh and Minnesota, like the Flyers, are trying to sign both Suter and Parise.
In June, sources told CSNPhilly.com that Suter had no interest in playing anywhere in the Eastern Conference.
That didn’t deter Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren nor Penguins GM Ray Shero -- who was the assistant GM in the Nashville front office responsible for drafting Suter -- from submitting long-term offers.
You can make a case that even if the Flyers privately feel Suter is a longshot to sign here, that the 12-year, $100 million-plus deal they offered him drove up the price for everyone else, including their most hated rival -- the Penguins.
Suter is expected to make his choice Thursday or Friday. There was no word on when Parise would make his.
Parise returned to his native Minnesota on Tuesday and told reporters he needed more time to think things over, especially since he had not discussed his future with his fiancé.
Parise emphasized that his decision would not be based on money and that there were other factors as or more important.
The Flyers have submitted the largest contract offers for both players, sources said.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcastsportsnet.com
