Latest NHL Buzz: On strategies of Suter, Parise going through preparations for July 1 & buzz on Pens/Nash, Hall of Fame

Zach Parise and Ryan Suter headline this years group of unrestricted free agents and both through their agents are going through preparations for what's to come on July 1.

Parise and his agents Wade Arnott, Don Meehan of Newport Sports met on Monday to lay out what teams they expect to be in pursuit and teams they have interest in, in addition to their plan of attack regarding talks with the New Jersey Devils. Talks between the Devils, Parise have begun and indications are the Devils will propose an offer by Thursday at the latest. Parise for now continues to say all the right things.

"If that does happen {hit the open market}, my agents have done a really good job of doing the best they can to prepare me for it. But first and foremost, we want to try to get things worked out with New Jersey,” the 27-year-old left winger told The Star-Ledger. “If it does happen to get to Sunday {hit the open market}, that’s by no means saying I don’t want to go back to New Jersey. “I know the perception would be, ‘Oh, he wants out.’ But that’s not the case. I haven’t been lying. I’ve said all along how much I like playing in New Jersey. So that wouldn’t be me saying, ‘I don’t want to play there anymore.”

Despite Parise saying all the right things, expectations leaguewide remain that Parise is set to hit the open market and at least entertain offers. Questions about New Jersey being able to field a competitive team long-term due to their financial situation and soon to be 70 year old GM Lou Lamoriello likely not being around for the length of Parise's contract are among the notable concerns Parise is said to have.

The Pittsburgh Penguins fully expected to chase Parise, has spooked teams around the league who feel the Crosby/Parise connection could make them the favorites, but there's also some chatter going around in the past 48 hours that if Parise leaves New Jersey, he won't sign with a division contender and prefers to sign with a Western Conference team due to the huge amount of respect he has for the Devils organization and Lamoriello. The Wild, Red Wings and Kings continue to be regarded as the favorites in the Western Conference to sign Parise.

For Ryan Suter, he is also going through similar preparations this week. Suter and his agent Neil Sheehy held meetings on Monday, and Tuesday laying out their plan of attack for July 1 and preparing for what teams they expect to chase the franchise defenseman. Suter is still considering the Nashville Predators but will test free agency where the Penguins, Red Wings, and Wild will be among the expected 8-10 teams to be in serious pursuit.

What is likely to be different between the two star players is their strategies on July 1. For premier free agents, Parise's reps at Newport Sports in the past have hosted interested teams at their Newport Sports headquarters on July 1, meeting with a select group of teams who normally make video presentations and such, trying to sell the particular player on the team, city. They did it last season with Brad Richards, hosting the likes of the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames. I'm told Suter and his reps have no plans to go that route in regards to hosting/meeting with teams on July 1.