Free agent forward Zach Parise told anxious reporters gathered outside his agent's office in Toronto that he had not yet made a decision. The hockey world buzzed with talk of a possible decision prior to Parise's Monday afternoon appearance, only to be slightly deflated.
Parise winnowed down his list to a handful of teams over the weekend. The New Jersey Devils, his former team, were in the mix along with the Detroit Red Wings and the Minnesota Wild, according to earlier reports.
Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the Penguins extended Parise an offer that would be the largest for a free agent in franchise history. Seven other teams have also made offers, per Rossi's report.
Parise, who turns 28 later this month, scored 31 goals and 38 assists with the Devils last season. A first-round pick by the Devils in 2003, he has 194 career goals. He scored eight goals and seven assists helping get the Devils all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals this year.
For more on the Penguins, check out PensBurgh.