Two simple signatures on July 4th reshaped an organization in search of an identity.

But it wasn't simple to get those pens into the hands of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

Seventy-two hours might not seem like a long time, but when you are the Minnesota Wild and you have invested hard work and hope into landing two of the most targeted free agents in NHL history while competing against powerhouse teams such as Pittsburgh, Detroit, Philadelphia and Chicago for those players, 72 hours felt like 72 days.

There was anxiety. There were sleepless nights. There were times when they lost hope.

"The first two days were extremely stressful," General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. "I remember thinking well into July 2, 'We're out, we're done, we're dead in the water, we've got to make a trade.' I didn't have any feeling that we were a favorite or on the map. I felt we weren't there."

But suddenly, late Monday into Tuesday, there was traction. Things progressed, then accelerated in a hurry. Nothing was for sure, but the Wild was told that Parise and Suter were talking and leaning toward playing for the same team.

The Wild was on their radar.

"And once those contracts came through on July 4, I just can't tell you the feeling," Fletcher said. "You're relieved, but you're almost numb ... because there was so little sleep, so much worry, so much not in your control."

First contact: agents

The pursuit began with two one-page e-mails from Fletcher shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, the official start of free agency.

One was delivered to Wade Arnott in Mississauga, Ontario, inside the offices of Newport Sports Management, which is made up of six agents who represent nearly 20 percent of NHL players. Arnott represents Parise, the Minnesota native and star forward of the New Jersey Devils, and Parise had traveled to Ontario to be with his agents.

The other was sent to Neil Sheehy in International Falls, Minn. Sheehy's office is in a high-rise in downtown Minneapolis, but for the past 15 years he has hunkered down at a resort in his hometown to field phone calls for his free-agent clients. This year, one was Suter, a blue-chip defenseman from the Nashville Predators, who was at his large farm outside Middleton, Wis.

In the e-mails, the Wild officially submitted offers, including terms, salary and potential structure.

Fletcher followed with phone calls to each agent but only reached voicemails. Within an hour, he had reached both and confirmed the offers.

Then, the Wild waited.

Assistant GM Brent Flahr called agent Kevin Epp about center Zenon Konopka. In two phone calls, Konopka was signed to a two-year, $1.85 million deal. Fletcher called agent Kent Hughes and signed right winger Torrey Mitchell to a three-year, $5.7 million deal.

And the Wild waited.

Other agents called and offered their clients' services, but the Wild was in a holding pattern.

Fletcher and owner Craig Leipold anxiously waited for the phone to ring.

And waited. And waited.

Finally at 7 p.m. Sunday, Arnott called.

Eight hours had passed since the initial e-mail, an eternity.

There was a lot of that the first two days. There were follow-ups with both agencies on both players. But much of the time, the Wild had no idea where it stood, no idea where its offers fit.

Were they high? Were they low? The Wild got little feedback.

Fletcher read every delay as a negative. When he read that Parise's camp and Suter's camp had begun calling teams to eliminate them, he went from wanting a phone call to begging: "Please don't ring. Please don't ring."

A flood of requests

Why the delays? Why no feedback?

Both agents were flooded with phone calls.

Arnott had eight calls by 5 after 11 Sunday. By the end of the day 20 teams had inquired and 17 had submitted offers for Parise. Sheehy? About the same inquired on Suter.

In Ontario, inside a conference room that Parise dubbed the "war room," the agents meticulously went through every team and offer with Parise. They assessed, deliberated, researched and called back teams for more information.

For each team, there was a list of 12-15 criteria that Parise prioritized -- everything from hockey operations, ownership stability, travel, taxation and lifestyle to the on-ice product and the organization's prospects.

Teams were weeded out.

Every now and then, Parise retired to an office to think and unwind. He would sometimes text Suter, a close friend from USA Hockey whom he immensely respects.

Finally, Parise returned to his hotel. And Arnott, for the first time, let Fletcher know he was still in the game.

On Monday morning, the Wild e-mailed information to Parise about the team and franchise. The Wild never spoke to Parise. The team's pitch was over the phone to his agents, and the team prayed nothing was lost in translation.

The Wild then waited ... more.

Teams around the league signed free agents, and the market got thin.

Fletcher worried.