Zach Parise shuns Islanders, signs deal with Avalanche
The Islanders' Zach Parise skates during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Hurricanes on April 23 at UBS Arena. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
Zach Parise took the third option.
After last season’s first-round playoff elimination, the left wing said he thought he would play for the Islanders “or nowhere” this season. Instead, the Avalanche on Friday announced that Parise — who never announced his retirement and remained an unrestricted free agent through more than half of this season — had signed a one-year, $825,000 deal.
“We are excited to add Zach to our group,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement announcing the signing.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said both before training camp and during the season that the team would always have a spot for Parise.
Parise, 39, whose father, the late J.P. Parise, was an Islander in the 1970s, played the previous two seasons for the club, dressing for all 82 games both times. He had 21 goals and 13 assists last season.
The Islanders are tight against the salary cap and in the midst of a rocky season. The Avalanche, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and are second in the Central Division, are a much better bet for Parise as a playoff contender.
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.
