Juuso Pärssinen missed several days of training camp with a lower body injury. Now he is healthy and ready to show new head coach Andrew Brunette what he can bring to the team.
Juuso Pärssinen missed several days of training camp with a lower body injury. Now he is healthy and ready to show new head coach Andrew Brunette what he can bring to the team.
Juuso Pärssinen was one of Nashville's surprise standouts last season, but fans have had to wait to see him in action this preseason. In 2022-23, Pärssinen played 45 games in his first NHL season and scored six goals and 25 points. The 22-year-old forward missed 23 games with a lower body injury from late February until the final week of the season, but his performance when healthy showcased his physicality and ability to create plays and battle for pucks in front of the net.
Pärssinen also had the highlight reel goal of the season for the Predators with a between the legs overtime game winning goal against the Minnesota Wild on April 13.
Predators fans were looking forward to seeing Pärssinen back on the ice at training camp, but the Finnish forward spent the early part of training camp recovering from a lower body injury. On Thursday night he returned to action at the Gold Star Showcase and played in Saturday afternoon's preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"I'm feeling good right now," Pärssinen said after practice on Sunday. "It was nice to get a couple of games in, the scrimmage first and then yesterday's game against Tampa."
Pärssinen may not have as much experience with new head coach Andrew Brunette's system yet, but he has plenty of enthusiasm for this new style of play.
"It's really good, and as a player you love to play hockey like that," Pärssinen said. "It's fast paced and a lot of offense. It's demanding, but it's fun."
Where Pärssinen will slot in in this new system remains to be seen. Brunette is getting some of his first looks at Pärssinen's game and has been trying him with several different potential line mates. Two of the players Pärssinen has skated with at practice and briefly in Saturday's game against the Lightning are Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg.
"We've been together for a couple of practices and the last period of yesterday's game," Pärssinen said. "I'm playing winger in that line."
Whether Pärssinen will play center or winger this season will depend on his line mates and where he best fits in to Brunette's system. He is willing to play either position and accepts the challenge that comes with learning both roles.
"I can play both center and wing," Pärssinen said. "It's different playing center or wing. You're in a little different position all over the ice. You can't think that much what position you play. You just have to execute and do your job whatever it is."
His experience in the NHL last season and his offseason focus on strength, skating and scoring have helped Pärssinen return to action at training camp with confidence despite missing the first week with injury.
"I'd say my confidence level is higher", Pärssinen said. "I played one season already with all the guys. I know how stuff works and I know the guys so that's of course a lot easier."
Pärssinen also knows that a new head coach and a new system means every practice counts.
"You've gotta prove yourself every day."