Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the two most-coveted NHL free agents in the class of 2012, will end up signing contracts running anywhere from 10 to 13 years.

Who'd have guessed that it would take both nearly that long to decide where to play?

Parise appears to be the one the Penguins have the best chance of landing, and one of his agents said Tuesday evening that he "probably" will make up his mind by today.

Previously, though, there had been indications that Parise would decide whether to return to New Jersey or join another team Sunday. Then Monday. Then Tuesday.

Such precedents suggest there's no guarantee it will happen today.

Parise flew from Toronto to his native Minnesota Tuesday and made it clear to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune when he arrived that he did not want to rush to judgment on something that figures to be a life-shaping issue.

"There's a lot of things to factor into it, and I think that's why we're taking our time with the decision," he said. "It's not something we can just make at 1 o'clock on July 1.

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