Parise, Suter holding Flyers hostage
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Parise, Suter holding Flyers hostage
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Left winger Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, the prized players in this year’s free-agent market, are taking their sweet time before selecting their teams.
As a result, numerous teams are being held hostage, including the Flyers.
“We’re just focused on the two free agents,” said one Flyers executive when asked if the team had made any headway in trade talks for Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan or Columbus’ Rick Nash.
Parise had said he expected to make a decision sometime Monday, but at about 5 p.m. he announced he needed more time to discuss the situation with his family. He may announce his choice on Tuesday.
Suter is also still mulling over his options.
The Flyers have reportedly made 12-year deals to both players for more than $80 million each.
Like the other teams in the free-agent sweepstakes, the Flyers are playing a waiting game and trying to be patient.
They "truly don't know" where they stand with the free agents, said one source close to the situation.
Parise told reporters he needed to feel more comfortable before making his choice.
"It's such a long-term, important decision, you have to make sure you look at everything," he said.
Suter’s decision is also holding up Matt Carle’s selection. Carle’s agent does not want his client to sign until Suter makes his pick. After Suter makes his choice, Carle figures to move up the ranks on some teams’ wish lists.
On Twitter, fans were getting impatient.
Tweeted mindofbrian: open heart surgery is done faster than #Parise picking a team. #thisguysisntGretzky.
Tweeted adameagle13: someone tell parise and suter to hurry up. Checking twitter every 2 mins is making me an unproductive employee #parisewatch
Parise's agent issued a statement saying the LW wants to step back and review options with his fiance and his family.
Doan Watch. If the Flyers don’t land Parise, they may make a pitch for Phoenix’s Shane Doan, a dependable 6-foot-1, 228-pound right winger who scored 22 goals last season.
Doan, who will turn 36 just before the season, will not sign until July 9, by which time it should be known if the Coyotes will stay in Phoenix. His first choice is to sign with Phoenix and spend his 17th season with the team.
Doan has scored at least 20 goals in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
The Flyers are still in the hunt for Jaromir Jagr; the 40-year-old RW is reportedly seeking $4 million per season after making $3.3 million last year.
* * *
Here is how the Flyers may look next season and the gaps they are trying to fill:
Line 1: Hartnell-Giroux-XXXXX.
Line 2: Read-Briere-Simmonds.
Line 3: Talbot-Couturier-Voracek.
Line 4: Rinaldo-B.Schenn-Wellwood
DEFENSE
Coburn-Grossman.
Timonen-Meszaros.
L. Schenn-XXXXXXXX.
GOALIES
Bryzgalov-Leighton.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
- you obviously dont follow hockey then.
Ryan is a CONSISTENT 30 goal scorer and is only 25 yrs old, from NJ, and costs MUCH LESS than Parise would cost. This team currently has a hole on it's top line for a winger.
Why is this so hard to understand?— astroqueen0 - Bobby Ryan was the 2nd overall pick of 05 draft.
It is not a coincidence he is one of the best young wingers in the game. He does not stink and is well worth a package of young players from Flyers— astroqueen0 - And JVR was the 2nd overall pick 2 years after that! I just don't get the love affair with him. Maybe we had that in JVR, I guess we'll never know. — kozykoz26
- What a completely idiotic headline...
Both of these guys are deciding where they are going to spend the next 10 plus years of their lives. To think they need to make it within a day or two of the start of free agency as to not inconvienence the Flyers is simply stupid. Being "held hostage" implies being held against your will... which the Flyers are clearly not. They can withdrawl their offers at any time if they wanted.— john reilly - With Bryzgalov and Leighton as goalie, does it really matter if the Flyers get both players and Bobby Ryan. Someone has to stop the puck when it matters and I can't see either goalie playing like Jonathan Quick or Tim Thomas.— zeke128
- Holmgren, passes on Olli Maatta,
giving Pittsburgh two blue-chippers
on defence, while we pick the
second(round)
coming of "Mike Richards" ?— olneyboy - john reilly: You mean they haven't been thinking about this ALL season, and they just started thinking about this big decision on July 1st? Please!!! They had to know which teams were interested in them and who was going to make offers for them. That's why they have agents.— BobbyD
- Hopefully, Clarkie will continue to shun European players for a mucker and grinder type! Gotta keep that Cup dry-run going!— bvl390
- It does not matter what the Flyers do, remember we are talking about Loserdelphia here. Just ask Richards, Carter and Gagne about that.— eaglesman1
- Doesnt matter who we add with BRYZ in net we arent winning a thing...dont sign anyone..dont resign Jagr...hire a lwayer to find an escape clause in BRYZ's contract and that will benefit the team more then any free agent.....— flyers1000
- Jagr wants a raise? Goodbye!!!— EDDYEDEAGLES
Please do not spend all this money on Parisi or Suter. Do not trade any young talent for Bobby Ryan unless it's a steal (Coutourier is an untouchable). We don't need any more huge contracts with Giroux coming up, and, next year's free agents are way better than this years crop. Suter is overrated, he just looks good playing with Weber. Sometimes ya just have to know when to hold 'em. You know what though, I'll be Holmgren is being a little devil and just jacking up the prices on Suter and Parisi so the teams that get them will have to overpay. Please let this be the case.— NHLfan- sam schenn isnt going to be on the 4th line lol— wahoos32
- With Bryzgalov and Leighton in goal, it doesn't matter who is on the ice in front of them. The Flyers can't seem to ever get the most important position straightened out.— jibberjabber
- Where did you come up with these lines?!? Schenn of the 4th line with Rinaldo?!?— ArtieLange
