Zach Parise Ready to Fit into Islanders Lineup, but Where Will That Be?

Zach Parise said he had a very “upfront and honest conversation” with Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz about what his role with the New York Islanders was going to be this season.

What exactly that will be, Parise didn’t specify with the media on Friday during a Zoom call. The Islanders acknowledged that Parise would be playing for them next season, but the team has not filed the contract with the league yet which means the terms of the contract remain unknown.

While Parise didn’t explicitly say where he would be playing or how the Islanders envision using him, the 37-year-old is well aware of what he needs to do.

“I know going into the season what their expectations are and my expectations are going in and fitting in on a really good team,” Parise said. “And whatever is asked you do it to the best of your ability. They know the type of player that I am, I know the type of player that I am, so there is no secrets there.

“We just want to be a part of what they have there already.”

“My expectation is to fit in on a really good team and do everything I am asked. You just want to be a part of what they already have there.”

Listen to Zach Parise as he addresses the media 🎥⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zERvq8ReJF

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 10, 2021

It’s no secret either that Parise had a rough season in his final year in Minnesota. Zach Parise only had seven goals and 11 assists in 45 regular-season games, and he also saw his playing time diminish.

Now in New York, Parise will see a bigger role carved out for him than what he had in Minnesota and that should help re-ignite his game. Parise will likely end up playing on the Islanders’ third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Parise could see power play time.

The Islanders’ power play has constantly struggled for quite some time and Parise would add some much need punch. While the 2020-21 season was a wash for Parise, 10 of his 28 goals in 2018-19 were on the man advantage and the following year he had 12 power-play goals.

Parise may have had a down year last season, but there appeared to be plenty of fire prove that’s all it was.

“When something like that (being bought out) happens, of course you want to get back to work right away and be ready for the following season,” Zach Parise said. “I know personally I still have a lot of good hockey left in me, but they didn’t see it like that. To me, it made it a unique but pretty exciting summer with just a little extra motivation.”

Long Island certainly offered him the chance to change that perception of his game and the Islanders, according to Parise, were just one of three teams that he was interested in going to.

“I think with almost having gone (to the Islanders) a couple of years ago I’ve just been watching the team from afar,” Parise said. “Knowing Lou for a long time I thought that it would be a good fit. Of course, it was a tough decision, but I just felt like watching the team playing I felt like I would fit in well there.”