Zach Parise
Zach Parise | |
|---|---|
| Born | Zachary Justin Parise July 28, 1984 |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey player (retired) |
| Years active | 2005–2023 |
| Known for | NHL left winger for New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche; captain of New Jersey Devils during 2012 Stanley Cup Finals; alternate captain for USA at 2010 Winter Olympics; captain for USA at 2014 Winter Olympics |
Zachary Justin Parise (born July 28, 1984) is a retired American professional ice hockey left winger who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche. He led the Devils as captain during their run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings in a six-game series. Additionally, Parise held the role of alternate captain for the United States team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Parise’s father, Jean-Paul, was a professional hockey player who represented Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series and played for the Minnesota North Stars. His brother, Jordan Parise, is a former professional goaltender. The family descends from French-Canadian roots.
He honed his talents at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota before advancing to play two seasons at the University of North Dakota. During his collegiate career, Parise was twice nominated for the esteemed Hobey Baker Award. Selected 17th overall by the Devils in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he turned pro following his sophomore year and spent one season with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. Parise made his NHL debut with New Jersey in the 2005–06 season. His standout campaign came in 2008–09 when he ranked third in league goals (45) and fifth in total points (94), trailing only top-tier scorers such as Alexander Ovechkin.
On the international stage, Parise represented Team USA at various competitions, notably capturing gold at the 2004 World Junior Championships where he was named MVP and Best Forward. At the 2010 Winter Olympics, he scored a pivotal tying goal in the gold medal game versus Canada, contributing to a silver medal finish and earning a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team. He was appointed captain of Team USA for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Amateur
Parise spent four seasons playing midget AAA hockey with the Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres located in Faribault, Minnesota, where his father, J. P., was actively involved in coaching and development. Over his final two seasons (2000–01 and 2001–02), he amassed an impressive total of 146 goals and 194 assists across 125 games. Parise earned MVP distinctions twice and was selected for the All-Star Team at Calgary’s Mac's AAA Hockey Tournament, finishing as top scorer in 2001. Upon completing his senior year, he received recognition as Shattuck-St. Mary's Best All-Around Athlete.
Beginning with the 2002–03 season, Parise competed in NCAA hockey for the University of North Dakota (UND) Fighting Sioux. In his debut game, he recorded a hat-trick, becoming only the second freshman since 1988 to achieve this feat. Leading all NCAA freshmen with 26 goals and 35 assists, he ranked eighth overall in scoring across all players. His accolades included four WCHA Rookie of the Week awards, a WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honor, and designation as a Hobey Baker Award finalist—the sole freshman nominee that year and UND’s first-ever freshman finalist. Additionally, Parise was named UND’s Male Rookie Athlete of the Year, earned spots on both the WCHA All-Rookie Team and All-WCHA Third Team, and was honored with UND’s Jeff Anderson Hockey Scholarship as team MVP.
Following his freshman year, NHL Central Scouting placed Parise ninth among North American skaters eligible for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Despite some reservations about his physical stature, his talent and dedication made him highly sought after. The New Jersey Devils secured him with their 17th overall pick after acquiring it from the Edmonton Oilers.
Returning to UND for his sophomore season, Parise contributed significantly alongside teammates Brandon Bochenski, Matt Smaby, and Drew Stafford to capture the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA Regular Season Champions. He earned First Team All-American recognition and was again nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, finishing among its finalists. His academic commitment was also acknowledged with selection to the All-WCHA Academic Team as well as inclusion on the WCHA All-Tournament Team. Furthermore, Parise received UND’s Cliff (Fido) Purpur Award for exemplifying perseverance, enthusiasm, and exceptional effort on ice.
New Jersey Devils (2005–2012)
Following his sophomore year at UND, Parise inked an entry-level deal with the New Jersey Devils on March 29, 2004. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, his initial professional season was spent in the American Hockey League (AHL) playing for the Albany River Rats, where he tallied 18 goals and 40 assists, earning a selection to the AHL All-Star Game.
Parise made his NHL debut during the 2005–06 campaign, appearing in all but one game and accumulating 32 points. He became the twelfth player in Devils history to score in his first NHL appearance and netted his inaugural playoff goal against the New York Rangers.
In the 2006–07 season, Parise set a franchise milestone by scoring a goal just 26 seconds into the opener. He nearly doubled his prior season’s point total with 62 and was honored as MVP at the NHL YoungStars Game. On August 1, 2007, he secured a four-year contract extension with New Jersey. The following year, he led the team with 65 points and recorded his first natural hat trick in an NHL game versus the Montreal Canadiens.
Appointed as an alternate captain on October 3, 2008, Parise experienced a breakout season in 2008–09, registering 45 goals and 49 assists for a total of 94 points. He finished fifth overall in NHL scoring and third in goals behind stars Alexander Ovechkin and Jeff Carter. Parise represented the Eastern Conference at the 2009 All-Star Game, received a nomination for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, earned a spot on the NHL Second All-Star Team, and was named the Devils’ most valuable player.
During the 2009–10 season, Parise played in 81 games, scoring 38 goals alongside 44 assists. Although he faced a mid-season slump in scoring, he responded with critical contributions thereafter. The Devils were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals by the Philadelphia Flyers, with Parise contributing one goal and three assists. He was once again honored as the Devils’ team MVP.
In November 2010, Parise suffered a right knee meniscus tear requiring surgery, causing him to miss most of that season. He returned to play in April 2011 after New Jersey’s playoff hopes had ended.
On July 29, 2011, Parise agreed to a one-year $6 million contract with New Jersey. He was named team captain on October 5, becoming only the second captain in franchise history to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals. The team ultimately lost in six games to the Los Angeles Kings after trailing three games to none.
Minnesota Wild (2012–2021)
Parise departed from New Jersey on July 4, 2012, signing with his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild. Influenced by his family roots, he expressed, "I grew up here... it would be great to be here year round." His father, J.P., had previously served as captain of the Minnesota North Stars. The Wild secured both Parise and fellow free agent Ryan Suter on matching contracts worth $98 million over thirteen years. Parise opted for jersey No. 11 to honor his father; his previous number nine was already worn by captain Mikko Koivu. On July 9, both players were designated alternate captains.
During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 NHL season, Parise registered 18 goals and 20 assists. Minnesota qualified for their first playoff appearance in five years as the eighth seed but were defeated by eventual champions Chicago Blackhawks in five games; Parise scored once during that series.
On March 20, 2014, Parise returned to play at the Prudential Center where Devils fans booed him despite him scoring a goal; however, Minnesota lost 4–3 in overtime.
Parise was sidelined indefinitely on November 6, 2014, after sustaining a concussion two days prior but made his return on November 16. He completed that season with a total of 62 points.
The 2015–16 campaign was disrupted by injuries including a sprained MCL and a back injury worsened by a hit from Logan Couture, forcing an early end to his season. Despite these setbacks, Parise led Minnesota in goals scored and ranked second in overall points while topping the NHL with three hat tricks.
On October 23, 2016, Parise scored twice against the New York Islanders, marking his milestone 300th career goal.
He reached his 1,000th NHL game on February 7, 2020 versus the Dallas Stars. Later, on February 24, 2021, he notched his 800th NHL point during a victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
On July 13, 2021, Minnesota bought out the remaining four years of Parise's contract.
New York Islanders (2021–2023)
On September 10, 2021, Parise inked a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the New York Islanders, reuniting with general manager Lou Lamoriello, who originally drafted him during his time with the Devils. Following a lengthy career in Minnesota and mirroring his father's path, Parise joined the Islanders. Expected to contribute as a top-nine forward, he made his season debut on October 14, 2021, in the opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite a slow start offensively, Parise netted his first goal for the Islanders in his 23rd appearance, helping secure a 4–2 victory over the Devils on December 11. He achieved his 400th career goal on February 24, 2022, during a shootout defeat to the San Jose Sharks. On March 21, he agreed to a one-year extension valued at $1.5 million. Completing the season with totals of 15 goals and 20 assists (35 points) across all 82 games, Parise was unable to assist the Islanders in breaking their four-year playoff drought.
During the 2022–23 campaign, Parise delivered consistent offensive output while fulfilling a versatile role, tallying 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in every game played. This marked his eleventh season scoring at least 20 goals. His tenure with the Islanders concluded after he went scoreless throughout six postseason games amid a first-round series loss to the Hurricanes.
Colorado Avalanche (2024)
After remaining unsigned for the first half of the 2023–24 season, Parise joined the Colorado Avalanche on January 26, 2024, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $825,000. Following the Avalanche’s clinching of a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Parise declared his intention to retire after their playoff run. His final NHL appearance came on May 17 in a second-round overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars, ending with a score of 2–1.
International play
Though J. P. Parisé represented Canada internationally, Zach and his brother Jordan hold American citizenship. Zach Parise launched his international play career with Team USA at the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he ranked 14th in scoring and helped secure a gold medal. He then participated in the under-20 category at the 2003 World Junior Championships; Team USA finished fourth while Parise placed eighth in scoring.
At the 2004 World Junior Championships, Parise captained the U.S. squad to its inaugural gold medal victory, earning accolades including Tournament MVP, Best Forward, and All-Star recognition after compiling five goals and six assists.
Parise also represented the United States at several World Hockey Championships (2005, 2007, and 2008), serving as an alternate captain in 2008 and being acknowledged as one of the team’s standout players.
Selected for the U.S. Olympic team in 2010 as an alternate captain, Parise scored both goals during a 2–0 quarterfinal triumph over Switzerland and netted a crucial game-tying goal against Canada in the final match, ultimately earning a silver medal. He ranked third overall in tournament scoring and was named to the Olympic All-Star team alongside Ryan Miller and Brian Rafalski. In the 2014 Olympics, Parise captained Team USA to a fourth-place finish after losing the bronze medal game to Finland.
In 2016, Parise was chosen once again to represent Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Personal life
During his tenure with the New Jersey Devils, Parise actively promoted children's literacy as a Library Champion for the New Jersey public library system.
Parise resides in Edina, Minnesota alongside his wife, Alisha Woods, who was his partner since college. The couple became parents to twins in 2014. His parents, J. P. Parise—a former NHL player and coach—and Donna, lived in Prior Lake, Minnesota. J. P. Parise passed away on January 7, 2015. Originating from Smooth Rock Falls, Northern Ontario, he was a Franco-Ontarian and received a cancer diagnosis during the Winter Olympics. Zach was born while his father served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota North Stars.
Parise maintains his training regimen with EVO Ultrafit and is endorsed by Easton Hockey. His elder sibling, Jordan, formerly played as a professional goaltender within the Devils organization.
Regular season and playoffs
Bold signifies league leader
(2022-23) New York Islanders NHL 82 21 13 34 24 6 0 0 0 2 (2023-24) Colorado Avalanche NHL 30 5 5 10 8 11 2 1 3 0| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | Shattuck-Saint Mary's | Midget AAA | 58 | 69 | 93 | 162 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Shattuck-Saint Mary's | Midget AAA | 67 | 77 | 101 | 178 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | US NTDP U18 | USDP | 12 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 39 | 26 | 35 | 61 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 37 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 73 | 18 | 40 | 58 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 81 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 2007–08 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 81 | 32 | 33 | 65 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 45 | 49 | 94 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 81 | 38 | 44 | 82 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 13 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 31 | 38 | 69 | 32 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 48 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 67 | 29 | 27 | 56 | 30 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 74 | 33 | 29 | 62 | 41 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 2015–16 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 70 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 69 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2017–18 | Iowa Wild | AHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 42 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 74 | 28 | 33 | 61 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 69 | 25 | 21 | 46 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 45 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | New York Islanders | NHL | 82 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,254 | 434 | 455 | 889 | 444 | 122 | 39 | 44 | 83 | 44 | ||||
International statistics
| Year | Team | Tournament | Outcome | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | United States | WJC18 | Template:Gold1 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 6 | |
| 2003 | United States | WJC | 4th place | 7 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2004 | United States | WJC | Template:Gold1 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2005 | United States | WC | 6th place | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | United States | WC | Finished 5th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008 | United States | WC | Ranked 6th | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2010 | United States | OG | Template:Silver2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2014 | United States | OG | Placed fourth | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | United States | WCH | Seventh place | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Junior career totals | 21 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 14 | ||||
| Senior career totals | 26 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 6 | ||||
Source of statistics
Amateur
| Award title | Year received |
|---|---|
| Mac's AAA Midget Hockey Tournament Most Valuable Player | 2000, 2001 |
| Mac's AAA Midget Hockey Tournament All-Star Selection | 2000, 2001 |
| Best All-Around Athlete at Shattuck-St. Mary's | 2002 |
| Male Rookie Athlete of the Year at University of North Dakota | 2003 |
| Recipient of Jeff Anderson Hockey Scholarship | 2003 |
| Named to Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team | 2003 |
| Selected for All-WCHA Third Team | 2003 |
| Earned All-WCHA First Team honors | (during) 2003-04 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season (2004) |
NHL
| Award title | Year awarded | |
|---|---|---|
| MVP of the NHL YoungStars Game | 2007 | |
| NHL YoungStar participant | 2007 | |
| Appearance in the NHL All-Star Game | (year) 2009 | |
| Selected for NHL Second All-Star Team | (year) 2009 | |
| Recipient of the Bob Nystrom Award | (years)2022, 2023 | |
| Named Most Valuable Player for the New Jersey Devils | (years) 2008, 2009, 2010 | |
| Cover athlete for the NHL 2K SuperCard game | (year) 2015 |