Isles' Zach Parise relaxes and raises his game
Zach Parise, after a slow start to the season, has been a stalwart for the Islanders. Credit: Jim McIsaac
ST. LOUIS — Zach Parise is comfortable in his third-line role with the Islanders, comfortable that he has a deal for next season and comfortable that he’s still a productive NHL player, relied upon on the power play and as a penalty-killer.
But it took a while for the former top-six forward to relax after the Wild bought out the final four seasons of his 13-year, $98 million deal last offseason.
“I think I got too caught up in that at the beginning of the year in trying to prove something,” Parise told Newsday this past week. “I think it took away from just relaxing and playing the game. I think it might have contributed to the slow start a little bit. I was just out to prove, and it didn’t work.”
Parise remained the only Islander to play in all 71 games as the team concluded a five-game road trip with a 6-1 loss to the Blues on Saturday night at Enterprise Center.
The Islanders announced at the trade deadline on March 21 that Parise, who will turn 38 in July, had agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million extension with a salary-cap charge of $750,000 for next season, identical to the one he signed after being bought out.
Parise said he and Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello initially discussed a two-year deal last offseason before settling on one season.
“So I wasn’t too concerned of whether it was going to work or not,” Parise said. “I knew I was going to be coming back. But you never know. But once you get pen to paper, yeah, you have that security and, of course, it feels good.”
Parise has 11 goals and 18 assists after starting the season with one goal in 33 games.
“Going from where I was almost 12 months ago, last year, things creep in on you mentally,” said Parise, who had seven goals and 11 assists in 45 games in his final season with the Wild, when he often was a healthy scratch. “You start to wonder, ‘Can I play in this [league] anymore? Whether it’s right or wrong, mentally, it was hard.
“It’s been so refreshing this year to play. To relax and play and enjoy the game and enjoy coming to the rink. It’s been awesome.”
Even when the goals weren’t coming, Parise was noticeable on the ice, mainly for how his legs were always moving around the crease and on the forecheck.
Coach Barry Trotz also has liked Parise’s willingness to play any role. He has been used up and down the lineup and at all three forward positions. Trotz often jokes that if he told Parise to strap on goalie pads, he would do it without hesitation.
Trotz also has praised Parise’s consistency.
“That goes a long way,” Parise said. “We all want to score. You go through droughts, you go through rough times. One thing I’ve always taken pride in is competitiveness and working. When the pucks aren’t going in — especially having played for Lou [on the Devils] for so long — you have to play the game the right way. If you’re not scoring, do something to help the team win and contribute. I’m making sure that I’m playing well without the puck and playing well on the penalty kill.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
