Parenteau hopes to repeat Moulson's surprise success
Islanders forward P.A. Parenteau, who spent last season with the Rangers, hopes he can be this year's surprise success story, like Matt Moulson was last year. (Oct. 2, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
This year's Matt Moulson, the long-suffering minor-leaguer who delighted the Islanders with a thoroughly unexpected 30 goals in his first full NHL season, might be . . . could be . . . P.A. Parenteau.
Like Moulson, Parenteau originally was a ninth-round draft choice - Moulson by Pittsburgh, Parenteau by Anaheim. Like Moulson, Parenteau spent serious time as a solid player in the American Hockey League - "on the bubble" for making an NHL team, as Parenteau put it - but repeatedly having the bubble burst.
So now, a year after the Islanders took a chance on Moulson and were rewarded far beyond expectations, both the team and Parenteau are thinking: Why not? Now 27 and after seven seasons in the AHL, Parenteau was signed as a free agent during the summer after a brief (22 games) but competent tour with the Rangers late last season.
There were "three or four teams" interested in bringing Parenteau on board, he said, but he and his agent liked the Islanders "because of what they did with Matt last year. They gave him a legitimate shot to prove himself."
The original Matt Moulson, now 26, scored twice in the team's final preseason game Saturday night, apparently ready to pick up where he left off in Saturday's season opener against Dallas at Nassau Coliseum. Parenteau regularly worked during training camp alongside prized young center John Tavares - an old friend of Moulson's and one of Moulson's first-line mates last year.
The Moulson-Parenteau comparison is lost on no one.
"P.A.'s going to get an opportunity, and he's probably been a more prolific scorer [83 goals the past three seasons at Hartford] in the AHL than Matt was,'' Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. "I told him it's not going to be handed to him; he's got to earn it"
Fine with Parenteau. " Hopefully, it's going to work out,'' he said. "I know I can play in this league.''
Notes & quotes: Gordon said Rob Schremp (back) is out three to four weeks . . . The NHL announced that Montreal's Michael Cammalleri was suspended for one game for slashing Nino Niederreiter in Saturday night's game.
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