No decision yet by Parise on where he'll sign

Monday, 07.02.2012 / 6:08 PM
Dan Rosen  - NHL.com Senior Writer

Zach Parise is not ready to make a decision on his future and he is not putting a deadline on when he will.

Parise told reporters Monday outside of his agent's offices in Mississauga, Ont., that he is going to take time to discuss his options with his family before making a decision. He said the New Jersey Devils remain in the mix for his services, but refused to divulge the other teams on his list. It is believed Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Detroit, Philadelphia and Chicago are on that list, but nothing has been confirmed by Parise or his agent.

"We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach," Wade Arnott, Parise's agent, wrote in an email to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "He wishes to take some time to step back and review all with his fiance and his family. We could be drawing closer to a decision."

That decision might possibly take another few days. Parise insisted he's in no rush to make his choice.

"It's such a long-term, important decision, you have to make sure you look at everything," Parise said during the impromptu press conference.

He later told NHL.com, "I have learned a lot about how this process works. My agents have done a great job of showing me all of the information."

Parise is the most coveted forward on the free-agent market. He captained the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Final this past season and had 31 goals and 38 assists in the regular season. In 502 career games, all with the Devils, Parise has 194 goals and 216 assists for 410 points.

The Devils reportedly tried to sign Parise prior to the opening of free agency as he met with New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello in Toronto. No deal was struck, so Parise became an unrestricted free agent and spent Sunday huddled with his agents fielding offers. He returned to Arnott's office Monday, but is scheduled to fly back home to Minnesota.

He took Sunday night to sleep on his decision and waited until late in the afternoon Monday to inform the media that he is not ready to commit.

Parise said he is not feeling any pressure from the teams involved to make a decision.

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