Zach Parise and Ryan Suter finally hit the ice for Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild hockey players Darroll Powe, left, and Ryan Suter listen during instructions as a number of Wild players returned to the Xcel Arena for an informal workout Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 in St. Paul, Minn., for the first time since a tentative agreement was reached in the NFL lockout. Suter and Minnesota native Zach Parise signed identical 13-year, $98 million contracts with the Wild last year. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (The Associated Press)

Minnesota Wild NHL hockey players, including Devin Setoguchi, foreground, listen to instructions from an organizational instructor after they returned Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, for an informal workout at the Xcel Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for the first time since a tentative agreement was reached in the NHL lockout. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (The Associated Press)

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are finally going to work for the Minnesota Wild.

The two big free-agent signings pulled on Wild sweaters for the first time on Monday during an informal practice with 16 of their new teammates. Parise and Suter signed matching 13-year, $98 million deals in July only to have to sit on the sideline during the NHL lockout. The owners and players came to an agreement on a new deal on Sunday, allowing the two stars to hit the ice at Xcel Energy Center a day later.

Suter says it's been a rollercoaster since he first decided to leave Nashville and sign with Minnesota.

Both stars say the league and the players need to apologize to fans for putting them through another labor dispute.