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Islanders Zach Parise will play with massive chip on his shoulders

By Michel Anderson|
ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 2: Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the game on April 2, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Oilers 3-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 2: Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the game on April 2, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Oilers 3-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Even though the contract hasn’t been filed with the league yet, we know for a fact that Zach Parise will play for the New York Islanders in 2021-22. So when Islanders beat writers simultaneously tweeted out that Parise would have a media availability with the Isles on Friday no one was surprised.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure everyone felt it was weird. Again, the contract isn’t in yet, but he’s speaking to the media. It likely means the contract will be announced officially before this 4 PM presser.

But I wanted to get to something that came out earlier today from KSTPSports. They interviewed Parise recently about his buyout and a move to the Island, and well, his comments, and the way he said them make me think he’s going to have a monster-sized chip on his shoulders this year.

Zach Parise will have a massive chip on his shoulders when playing for New York Islanders

There was never any doubt that Parise would be motivated to play for the Islanders. He’d get a bit more ice time playing on a much better Islanders third line, a (good) chance to play for a Stanley Cup, and he’s reunited with a number of familiar faces including President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello.

But the way Parise spoke about how things went down in Minnesota shows he might be a bit more motivated this season. Listen to him talk about the buyout. He’s not mad, he’s pretty beat-up about it, he wanted to stay, and having to leave – even if it’s to go to the island – still isn’t sitting well with him.

Make sure to read the full interview where Parise talks about joining the Islanders.

You can easily feel Parise’s disappointment and even pain to no longer be with the Wild.

He’s clearly going to have something extra to prove this year. Not only that he’s still got it now as a 37-year-old, but that letting him go was a bad idea.

That has to be music to any Islanders fan’s ears. Already, Parise, who was having a tough year dealing with a decreased role, is already a big upgrade for the Isles third line. And now you add this extra motivator and Parise could have a big year on the Island.

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