Parisé played in the National Hockey League (NHL), most notably for the Minnesota North Stars and the New York Islanders.

While he was not a promising scorer in juniors, he learned to play a diligent two-way game and became noted as a skilled penalty killer.

He played 30 games for the Americans (and one for the Leafs), before being dealt again on December 23, this time to the Minnesota North Stars[1] along with Milan Marcetta for Murray Hall, Ted Taylor, Len Lunde, Don Johns, Duke Harris, and the loan of Carl Wetzel.

The degree to which Parisé was held in respect in the hockey world resulted in being named to play for Team Canada in the Summit Series in 1972.

Parisé had 16 points in 17 playoff games that year, second to former North Stars teammate Drouin, who had been acquired in a separate deal with Minnesota that season.

After the demise of the Barons and their June 5 merger draft with the Minnesota franchise, Parisé became a North Star again and he would serve as the team's captain while playing his final season before retirement.

Thereafter Parisé retired to Minnesota where he coached and was hockey director at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, where his son Zach Parise and many other players such as Sidney Crosby, Jack Johnson and Jonathan Toews played.

On April 23, 2008, Parisé was named the head coach and general manager of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.