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Ryan Suter's agent, Neil Sheehy, told the AP that his client would not choose a team to play for on Tuesday.
Suter, the top defenseman available, and Zach Parise went into Day 3 of NHL free agency with teams and fans waiting for at least one of them to make a decision.
"When a young man is asked to commit for 13 years, why is it considered extraordinary to take a few days to make a decision?" Sheehy wrote in an email. "A deal will happen when it happens."
The two free agents are both 27 and each has been with only one team during their seven-season careers. Suter has played for the Nashville Predators, who are hoping for a quick answer from him so that they can move onto Plan B if necessary. The Predators aren't alone.
Second-tier free agents such as defenseman Matt Carle and forward Alexander Semin seem to be waiting for Suter and Praise to sign so that they can offer their talents to teams that don't get a top target.
Some players, however, have jumped at chances to re-sign or sign in the opening three days of free agency.
Colorado kept defenseman Erik Johnson thanks to a $15 million, four-year deal and New Jersey retained defenseman Bryce Salvador with a $9.5 million, three-year contract on Tuesday.
Jiri Hudler signed a $16 million, four-year contract with Calgary - getting much more than Detroit offered to keep him - and former Flames forward Olli Jokinen left to play in Winnipeg on a $9 million, two-year contract on Monday.
There were a flurry of signings Sunday - Day 1 of NHL free agency - including forward P.A. Parenteau leaving the New York Islanders for a $16 million, four-year contract with the Avalanche and 40-year-old forward Ray Whitney getting a $9 million, two-year deal from Dallas.
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(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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