At 38, Zach Parise Relishing His Islanders Playoff Experience

New York Islanders forward Zach Parise, an 18-year NHL veteran, is relishing his Islanders playoff experience. More in his one-on-one with The Hockey News.

Only 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and last season, the New York Islanders weren't one of them. That makes being back in the playoffs ultra special to the group. 

While most of the group from the back-to-back semi-final runs took the ice for New York during the hectic 2021-22 season, veteran Zach Parise was brought in to help continue their playoff streak, which had reached three straight seasons.

That did not happen.

For Parise, playing meaningful hockey after 82 games had been the norm over his 16 NHL seasons before joining the Islanders. 

In his first seven years in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, Parise made the postseason six times. After leaving the Devils following the 2011-12 season that ended in a heartbreaking Stanley Cup Final loss to the Los Angeles Kings, Parise joined his hometown Minnesota Wild where he continued his postseason success, making it seven of his next nine years. 

But then, Parise's career in Minnesota came to a close when general manager Bill Guerin wanted to go in another direction, buying out the remaining four years of Parise's deal. 

Parise was in need for a new home, and the Islanders -- one of the teams his late father J.P. Parise played for -- came calling, in which he agreed to a one-year deal. 

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, who drafted Parise with the 17th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Level Draft while at the helm in New Jersey, saw Parise as a player that could really help this group, and Parise was excited for the challenge after a brutal ending in Minnesota. 

Missing the playoffs wasn't on anyone's bingo card in 2021-22, but it was a reality for Parise in his first stint in blue and orange. 

Before the end to what was a nightmarish season for everyone, Parise, who scored 15 goals with 20 assists, agreed to a one-year extension. He believed this group would get back in, and he also believed he could do more to help. 

And in year two on Long Island, Parise did just that, recording 21 goals and 13 assists in 82 games to help the Islanders clinch the top wild-card spot in the East. 

Although excitement to play postseason hockey was rather clear after clinching their spot with a win in game 82, Parise and the Islanders have played five playoff games, and find themselves 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes.

"There's a lot of words," Parise started to say when The Hockey News asked what playing postseason hockey again has been like after missing out last season. "Really, the first thing that you come back to is that you are fortunate, you know what I mean?

"It's not easy to make the playoffs, to get this opportunity. When you continually make it -- I don't want to say take for granted -- but we're like, 'We're gonna make it',  you know, and then all of a sudden you have a year where you don't, you crave that competition again and that feeling of playing in the playoffs. There's just nothing better."

Parise has not signed an extension with New York and will be turning 39 on July 28, and even if he does return for his 19th NHL season, whether with New York or another team, playoffs are anything but a guarantee.

The second-year Islander was honest with THN as there were thoughts after missing a season ago if he would ever get back to the playoffs before he decided to hang the skates up.

"It's always something you are thinking about," Parise said. "You really never know. I mean, there's roller-coaster seasons. Nothing's set in stone.

"Teams play through injuries, lose important guys. I mean, we lost important guys for big chunks of time, and fortunately, we were able to hang in there, but you just never know if you're gonna make it. You never know if you're gonna get another shot."

The Islanders were without Mathew Barzal for 24 games, Kyle Palmieri for 27 games, Jean-Gabriel Pageau for 12 games, Adam Pelech for 21 games, Cal Clutterbuck for 33 games, and are still without Oliver Wahlstrom, who missed the final 47 games and will not be back until next season, as well as others for shorter periods. 

Most teams don't survive that, with so many critical players landing on the shelf. But the Islanders did. 

"If you look back at it, you lose Pelech for a long time, Palmieri for a long time, Barzal for a long time...those are important guys. You had to fill in their roles and do different jobs, and everyone did a great job," Parise said. "And now we got everybody healthy.

"It's this time of year, everyone's got their bumps and bruises and aches. But that's just the nature of this thing right now. And we just play through it and enjoy it."

Parise was one of those key guys wearing numerous hats all season, playing up and down the lineup wherever head coach Lane Lambert needed him like he did a season prior under Barry Trotz. 

Even in these playoffs, Parise has played on two different lines, and has come up large on the penalty kill, none bigger than his performance in Game Five, helping New York to a perfect 4-for-4.

Although Parise played in all 82 games for a second straight season, there's wear and tear, but he's pushed through.

In Game Three, Parise got caught with a missed high stick and lost a few chiclets in the process. In Game Five, Parise, as he always does, put his body on the line at critical moments and blocked two Brent Burins shots en route to the 3-2 win that helped New York stave off elimination.

Parise smiled during Thursday's media availability, showing off some new teeth.

"Yeah, my daughter could not stand it really. She did not like it one bit," Parise said about the missing teeth. "But I got it fixed yesterday. So yeah, all good."

One could tell that Parise is not taking any moment of this first round for granted, and he and his teammates have the opportunity to continue their postseason journey with a win Friday night at UBS Arena to force a Game Seven.