Days from unrestricted free agency and the chance to be romanced by other NHL clubs willing to pay big bucks for his signature on a contract, Zach Parise insisted the Devils are still very much in the picture.

Parise said today that his agents, Wade Arnott and Don Meehan, have been talking to Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello the last few days. However, he acknowledged it is very possible there will be no deal before Sunday's noon (ET) deadline for the start of free agency.



"If that does happen, 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.

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Parise said even if he becomes unrestricted, it does not mean he has ruled out staying with the Devils.

“Not at all. I’m sure a lot of people will think that, but that’s very far from the case,” he said. “If it does happen to get to Sunday, 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.’ ”

Lamoriello would not comment on negotiations.

"You're always talking," the GM said, "but I don't want to comment on it."



Even before he led the Devils to the Stanley Cup finals against the Los Angeles Kings, losing in six games, Parise was viewed as the premier potential free agent this year.



The Detroit Red Wings are believed to be poised to make the biggest offer, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild also in the mix.



Parise said just after the playoffs that he would not sign with the Rangers, but there are many who wonder whether his agents could change his mind if the Devils' arch rivals offered enough money.



Devils' owner Jeff Vanderbeek would have liked to get financial help to bail him out of debts said to be $77-80 million in time to show Parise and his agents that the team was financially healthy. That almost certainly will not happen before Sunday.

This past season Parise earned $6 million, the same as teammate Ilya Kovalchuk. But it would not be surprising to see teams offer multiple-year deals that average $9 million or $10 million per season.



In 82 games this season Parise scored 69 points (31 goals, 38 assists) with three game-winning goals. In the playoffs he had 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 24 games, ranking sixth behind Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Kovalchuk, Claude Giroux and Drew Doughty.



The odds seem to point to Parise becoming unrestricted on Sunday.



"I can't comment on that," he said. "But if it does get to July 1st it's going to be a bit overwhelming."

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com; twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils