(Glenn James/National Hockey League/Getty)
The Dallas Stars recently clinched their second round series in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6. Following the game, head coach Pete DeBoer took time to have a moment with one Avalanche player who was his captain for one season.
Before the 2024 Playoffs started, Zach Parise stated it would be his final season at 39 years old. The Stars eliminated Parise and the Avalanche in six games, but DeBoer and Parise shared a moment in the handshake line.
“He’s always been one of my favorite NHL players, cause, you know, he’s got an engine that doesn’t stop,” DeBoer said after Game 6.
What some hockey fans might forget is Parise was DeBoer’s captain for one season. After being fired by the Panthers following the 2010-11 season, DeBoer was hired by the Devils to be their next head coach. After the Devils traded then captain Jamie Langebrunner to the Stars in January 2011, Parise was named captain before the 2011-12 season started.
Parise recorded 69 points (31G, 38A) and the Devils clinched the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. DeBoer’s Devils led by Parise made the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Kings in six games. Parise was a major part in the Devils run as he was second in points with 15 and tied for the most goals with eight with Ilya Kovalchuk in the 2012 Playoffs. However, 2011-12 was the only season DeBoer would coach Parise in New Jersey.
In July 2012, Parise signed a 13-year, $98 million contract with the Wild. DeBoer’s time with the Devils would come to an end in the middle of the 2014-15 season as he was fired with a 12-17-7 record.
2021 was the first time DeBoer would meet Parise in the Playoffs as the two met in the first round of the 2021 Playoffs when DeBoer was the head coach of the Golden Knights and Parise was member of the Wild. DeBoer’s Golden Knights eliminated the Wild in seven games and Parise was bought out of his contract in the Summer of 2021.
After playing two seasons with the Islanders following the buyout, Parise signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Avalanche in January 2024. Parise recorded 10 points (5G, 5A) in 34 games after being signed and 3 points (2G, 1A) in the 2024 Playoffs.
“I wished, you know, our paths would’ve crossed again at some point,” DeBoer said. “I know we tried, you know, a few times over the years cause I would’ve loved to have worked with him again.”
DeBoer and the rest of the NHL say goodbye to Parise. In 19 seasons, Parise recorded 889 points (434G, 455A) in 1,254 games played.
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