Islanders Zach Parise Was Quiet in Return to Minnesota

For nine years, Zach Parise was a part of the Minnesota Wild. He was unceremoniously bought out by the Wild this past offseason before signing with the New York Islanders but it’s likely safe to assume that this game was circled on his calendar for a while.

He’s moved on and he’s said he’s happy to be an Islander, but it’s hard not to have expected him to have a little extra juice especially when you consider how he’s been playing. Ironically, this game against the Wild may have been his worst of the season.

Parise came in with the lowest amount of ice time on the team with 11:43, he was a -2, and he took a penalty. According to Hockey Stat Cards, Parise came in with a -0.58 game score which was the seventh-lowest of the game between both teams and third lowest on the Islanders.

The irony here is that Zach Parise has had some of the better underlying numbers on the team. He’s fourth on the team in CF%, first in xGF%, first in SCF%, and fifth in HDCF%. He’s getting his chances, eventually, they’re going to start going in.

So far, Parise has just two assists both of which came in the Islanders win over Montreal on Thursday. The numbers may not be there just yet but it’s hard to argue against him being a massive upgrade to what the Isles have been running out there on the third line in recent years.

The third line of Parise – Pageau – Wahlstrom leads Islanders forward lines in minutes at 74.6 and has been putting up steady numbers as a unit. Their expected goals percentage is 56.5 trailing only the Beauvillier – Nelson – Palmieri line which has been read hot.

Pageau and Parise have been off to a little bit of a slow start in terms of production but Oliver Wahlstrom has done a good job of carrying that line in the meantime. Zach Parise will be fine, and he’s been a steady addition to this team already.