Islanders: Parise Having Fun, Interested in Returning Next Season

A year ago, forward Zach Parise had fallen out of favor with the Minnesota Wild. The 36-year old had only played in 45 of Minnesota’s 56 games in 2021, as interim head coach Dean Evason elected to scratch the veteran and play youth instead.

On July 13, the Minnesota Wild bought out the remaining four years of Zach Parise’s contract as he became a free agent.

“I had my expectations heading into last season and where I fit in on the team,” Parise told the Pioneer Press in July. “Then it shakes out the way it did. I never questioned whether I was good enough to play in the NHL. Just unfortunate the way it ended up working out during the season. It wasn’t fun, I’ll say that much.”

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was at the helm in New Jersey when Zach Parise was drafted 17th overall back in 2003 and throughout his seven-year tenure with the Devils.

Lamoriello knew Parise’s game, and although it was not announced until late this past summer, Zach Parise agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million (AAV), with a salary-cap hit of $750 K.

Despite the New York Islanders struggles this season, Zach Parise has had a blast in his first year on the island and spoke Thursday on a willingness to return for the 2022-23 season (UFA come season’s end).

“I’d love to, yeah. I really have enjoyed being with this team and these players, and it’s been a blast, really,” Parise said. “It’s fun coming to the rink every day and playing with these guys and, you know, of course, love to be in a different position than we are right now, you know, don’t have to say that, but the experience has really been awesome.”

As for how his season has gone, with eight goals and 15 assists in 57 games, Parise spoke on his lack of point production early but has liked his overall game.

“I think slow statistically, the first half of the season, slower than I would have liked,” Parise said. “But I didn’t mind the way I was playing. I think that you know, after Christmas, I felt a little more comfortable and started getting rewarded a little more, but I’ve liked how it’s gone as of late and developing some chemistry with with both Pageau and Barzal. And you know, that’s, that’s been important.”

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz has used Zach Parise at every forward position this season, up and down the lineup.

Paris has been penciled in alongside Mathew Barzal and Oliver Wahlstrom since Barzal returned from injury on Mar. 11 against the Winnipeg Jets. Previously he had being playing alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri.

Back on Mar. 7, before the Islanders contest against the Colorado Avalanche, I asked head coach Barry Trotz about the importance of Zach Parise’s versatility.

“The only place he hasn’t played is defensemen and that right now…we still go some runway left,” Trotz joked. “The good thing about Zach is he can play and has played all three forward positions, number one. But it’s his attitude going into it. It could say on the paper that he’s playing net tonight, and he goes, ‘okay, I’ll do it, no problem’.”

“He’s a student of the game… he’s been our most consistent forward.”

Following the press conference, Trotz continued to speak highly of Parise’s game as he walked out of the press room. He reiterated that he would play goalie if the Islanders needed him to, as they would just need to have equipment available to him.

For Parise, he’s at the tail end of his NHL career. But what he brings to the Islanders each night is a consistent, grinding effort. No matter who he has played with, his hard-nosed game has not changed, and the “little things” Trotz demands, that finer attention to detail, is something that Parise does to a tee, on a nightly basis.

In the 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, Mar. 13, Mathew Barzal went for a between-the-legs move after he corraled a loose puck in front of Anaheim netminder John Gibson. The puck slid off his stick, and Parise, positioned towards the back post, banged the puck home.

But that goal is only possible due to Parise going hard on the forecheck, as his hit forced the turnover.

Thoughts on this Mat Barzal (@Barzal_97) pass… shot attempt? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/i9bPM4VpV4

— NHL (@NHL) March 14, 2022

The Islanders have had an off-season, one filled with circumstances beyond their control as well as in their control, which have impacted their ability to be as competitive as they should have been. Parise signed with New York because he believed the Islanders would be vying for a Stanley Cup this season.

Although there have been rumors about Parise being traded, he has not talked to Lamoriello about being moved before the NHL Trade Deadline this upcoming Monday.

“Even if I did have those discussions, I probably wouldn’t be vocal about it. So again, I’m not overly concerned about it right now.”

If Lamoriello makes the proper moves this offseason, the Islanders should be back contending next year.

Although Zach Parise is not the superstar that puts the Islanders over the top, for what he can do and at his low cost, it seems like a no-brainer to sign him back for another season.