The Nashville Predators and potential free agent defenceman Ryan Suter are talking, but they have yet to reach an agreement on a new deal.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com, Predators general manager David Poile met with Suter and his agent Neil Sheehy on Thursday.
"I think there's good progress, we talked about some of the same things, also some new things," Poile told ESPN.com Friday. "He's not saying anything that makes me feel that he doesn't want to play in Nashville. I think we're all on the same page. But he has to make a decision. He wants to talk to his family and to Neil Sheehy some more. The process will just continue."
Suter is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and alongside Devils winger Zach Parise would be one of the most coveted free agents on the market.
"We talked about many issues," Sheehy told ESPN.com Friday. "Both sides were candid with each other. What we agreed to do is to continue our dialogue. Ryan, it's no secret, loves Nashville. Ryan is just considering a lot of things. But David gave us more things to think about."
LeBrun noted that two years ago, Poile traded away the rights to potential UFA defenceman Dan Hamhuis prior to July 1 when it became clear that Nashville would not be able to re-sign him. But Poile said on Friday that he doesn't see that happening with Suter.
"Based on the conversations, I do not feel that's going to happen, no," Poile said.
"I don't want to speak for Ryan but there's nothing that indicates that there's anything that's negative with him re-signing with Nashville," Poile added. "The conversations are always pro-Nashville, our city, our team, his role"
