The Colorado Avalanche just made a big move, signing Zach Parise for the rest of the 2023-24 NHL season. The news came after a lot of speculation following a report from a Minnesota Wild reporter, Michael Russo.
Parise, who’s 39, hadn’t been playing since his time with the New York Islanders. Back in September, the Islanders’ GM said Parise was taking time off to be with his family.
With over 1200 NHL games and more than a hundred playoff games, Parise’s got serious experience. He’s known for bringing a strong presence to the locker room, kind of like Andrew Cogliano and Jack Johnson.
We have signed Zach Parise to a one-year contract.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/tDaeKfaFcy
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 27, 2024
Parise spent almost a decade with the Minnesota Wild, so he’s familiar with the Avs’ territory. He’s coming off two seasons with the Islanders where he played every regular-season game and contributed on both offense and defense.
In Colorado, Parise might not be the top-line guy he used to be, but he’s expected to add some scoring depth. He could slot in alongside Ross Colton and Logan O’Connor, but he’ll likely see most of his time on the fourth line.
Don’t expect Parise to light up the scoreboard like he used to, but he’ll bring a physical presence and defensive effort. The Avs see this as a low-risk, potentially high-reward move as they gear up for the rest of the season.
