Potential Landing Places for Ryan Suter

With NHL free agency underway, several teams will be salivating at the opportunity to sign Ryan Suter to a long-term deal. Suter is the best free agent defenseman and was often overshadowed by fellow Predator Shea Weber. Expect Suter to finally get the recognition he deserves and earn quite the paycheck. Here are his top four landing spots:

4. Minnesota Wild: The Wild have made it clear that they plan on improving through free agency this offseason. They will be pursuing both Suter and Parise very hard and could convince them to sign together. Watch out for Minnesota to get good, and fast.

3. Nashville Predators: If the Predators could manage to bring back Suter, they will maintain one of the league’s top defenses. With Shea Weber as his line partner and Pekke Rinne in net, it is nearly impossible to score On Nashville with those two in the lineup. The question looms whether or not the Preds’ front office is ready to open up the checkbook and give Suter the same money that other teams around the league will.

2. Pittsburgh Penguins: Suter would be the absolute perfect fit in Pittsburgh. He is a big, strong defenseman that could hold down the back while Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby lead the attach. After the Flyers lit up the scoreboard against the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, it became clear that Pittsburgh needed to improve their defense. If Suter does sign a long-term deal with the Pens, look for them to be Stanley Cup contender for a very long time.

1. Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings are looking for a promising young player to replace Nicklas Lidstrom on defense, and Suter fits that need exactly. While he is not as talented as Lidstrom, he will bring the hard working attitude that Detroit fans have come to know and love over the years. Detroit is also always a cup contender, which is very appealing to Suter. Look for the Wings to make a strong push to sign the stud defenseman, because just like all other powerhouses in sports, they don’t rebuild, they reload.

-Langer