Parise healthy scratch for 1st time with Wild
The Minnesota Wild sent a message to a longtime fixture of the franchise.
Zach Parise was a healthy scratch against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night for the first time in his tenure with the Wild, and only the second time during his 16-year career.
Parise skated Wednesday, but he didn't take part in line rushes.
#mnwild wearing Reverse Retro jerseys tonight, it appears. Zach Parise first on the ice for skate pic.twitter.com/gip1nbru1I
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 3, 2021
Parise didn't go off for a line change with Nico Sturm and Marcus Foligno late in Minnesota's overtime loss to Vegas on Monday night, instead remaining on for 1:33 of ice time. During that extended shift, he deflected Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty's pass right to Mark Stone, who fed Alex Tuch for the tying goal with about 42 seconds left in regulation.
After Wednesday's skate, Parise said he doesn't agree with the decision to scratch him, saying he was trying to help Foligno notch a hat trick and "it was the ultimate backfire," according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.
"You hope you go forward when something like this happens and hope you can turn it into a positive," Wild head coach Dean Evason said.
Parise's role has gradually diminished throughout the season. He began the campaign on the team's top line, but the forward has since been demoted to the bottom six.
The 36-year-old has collected only three goals and six assists over 19 games in 2021. The veteran's average ice time of 16:38 is the lowest since his rookie season in 2005-06.
Parise was last made a healthy scratch on Nov. 30, 2005 while with the New Jersey Devils, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. The last time he missed a game while not injured or ill was April 7, 2018 when Parise sat out the final contest of the Wild's regular season to rest for the playoffs, according to the Star-Tribune's Sarah McLellan.
He's been an alternate captain since joining the Wild in 2012, and only new captain Jared Spurgeon carries a larger cap hit than the $7.5 million both Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter carry.
Parise ranks third on the Wild's all-time goals and points lists, and sits seventh in games played despite spending his first seven seasons with the Devils.