The 39-year-old forward, Zach Parise, who spent the last two seasons with the New York Islanders, was expected to either return there or retire. However, it now appears that he is heading in a different direction. Known for his strong two-way game, Parise is considered a valuable depth forward for contending teams, and the Colorado Avalanche seem poised to take advantage of his services.
During the previous season, Parise contributed 21 goals and 13 assists, totaling 34 points in 82 games. Throughout his NHL career spanning 1224 games, he has accumulated 429 goals and 450 assists, boasting an average of 0.72 points per game.
Parise was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Devils (17th overall) after an impressive stint in the NCAA with the University of North Dakota. Over two seasons in college, he recorded 49 goals and 67 assists, totaling 116 points in 76 games.
