Zach Parise of the Colorado Avalanche has announced his retirement at the end of this season, as reported by the Denver Post's Corey Masisak.
Parise joined the Avalanche in January on a one-year contract, contributing four goals and nine points in 29 games.
Parise expressed contentment with his decision, stating that he had anticipated this season would be his last. He reflected positively on his experience with the Avalanche, praising the team and its players for making him a better player, even at his age.
The Avalanche, currently positioned as the No. 3 seed in the Central Division, will enter the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs facing the Winnipeg Jets in the first round.
Zach Parise began his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils after being drafted in the first round of the 2003 NHL Draft. He spent seven seasons with the Devils, including leading them to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final as captain. Parise later signed with the Minnesota Wild in 2012 alongside Ryan Suter, spending nine seasons with the team before being bought out in the 2021 offseason. He then played two seasons with the New York Islanders before joining the Avalanche this season.
Over his career, Parise accumulated 433 goals and 888 points in 1,253 games, along with 37 goals and 80 points in 111 playoff contests.
In related news, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter has also announced his retirement following a 19-year career.
Carter, 39, capped off his final regular season with 11 goals and 15 points in 72 games. He expressed excitement about transitioning into fatherhood and thanked his family for their sacrifices throughout his career.
Carter began his NHL journey with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he spent the first six years of his career before stints with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Los Angeles Kings. He played a pivotal role in the Kings' Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014, earning recognition for his performance with an Olympic Gold Medal and NHL All-Star Game appearances.
Throughout his career, Carter amassed 442 goals and 409 assists for 851 points in 1,320 games, ranking 63rd on the NHL's all-time games played list. He also enjoyed success in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the American Hockey League (AHL) before making his mark in the NHL.
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18 AVRIL | 231 ANSWERS Jeff Carter and Zach Parise officially announce their NHL retirement Were you watching the NHL when Zach Parise and Jeff Carter started their careers? | ||
Yes | 197 | 85.3 % |
No | 34 | 14.7 % |
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