Zachary Justin Parise (born July 28, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played for the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL)[2] Parise captained the Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.

Parise was an alternate captain for the American team at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and scored the tying goal late in the gold medal game against Canada to send it to overtime.

[4] While playing for the Sabres, Parise twice participated in the Mac's AAA Hockey Tournament held in Calgary, Alberta.

[7] Parise played NCAA hockey for the Fighting Sioux at the University of North Dakota (UND) starting with the 2002–03 season.

Along with teammates Brandon Bochenski, Matt Smaby and Drew Stafford, Parise helped the University of North Dakota to the MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA Regular Season Champions.

[9] He was named as one of the ten nominees for the Hobey Baker Award, and was one of three finalists, losing out to eventual winner Junior Lessard.

"[9] After his sophomore season at UND, Parise chose to forgo his final two years of NCAA eligibility to sign a professional contract with the New Jersey Devils.

[13] Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Parise spent his first professional season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Albany River Rats.

[4] Parise scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal against the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals.

[4] To open the following season, Parise set a franchise record for scoring the quickest season-opening goal, 26 seconds into the first game.

[13] After the season, Parise was chosen as one of three nominees for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most sportsmanlike player.

On March 2, 2011, Parise was cleared to start skating and returned to play on April 2, the same night the Devils were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Parise became the second captain in Devils history (the other being Scott Stevens) to lead them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Parise noted that his parents played a role in him signing with the Wild, stating "When I made the decision they were real excited as well.

The Wild signed Parise, as well as fellow free agent Ryan Suter, to identical 13-year, $98 million contracts.

The team lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in five games in the opening round; Parise scored one goal during the series.

[27] On November 6, 2014, it was announced that Parise was out "indefinitely" due to a concussion he suffered two days earlier during a 4–1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In a game against the San Jose Sharks, Parise sustained a hit from Logan Couture that further aggravated the injury, taking him out for the rest of the season and the Wild's short playoff run.

[37][38] Projected to be utilised in a top nine forward role, Parise made his Islanders debut to open the 2021–22 season on October 14, 2021, against the Carolina Hurricanes.

[41] Adding a veteran presence, on March 21, Parise agreed to sign a one-year, $1.5 million contract extension with the team.

[43] Parise concluded his contract with the Islanders after going scoreless through six playoff games in a first-round series defeat by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sitting out the first half of the 2023–24 season as a free agent, on January 26, 2024, Parise signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

Although Parise's father J. P. played internationally for Canada during his hockey career, Zach and his brother Jordan are American citizens.

[46] Parise's international career started at the under-18 level, where he played for the United States during the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships.

[47] Parise finished the tournament 14th overall in scoring with seven goals and three assists in eight games[48] and the United States won the gold medal.

[47] In 2005 and 2007, Parise played for the United States at the World Hockey Championships, although he did not suit up for the full slate of games in either event.

[65] Parise's father was a Franco-Ontarian from Smooth Rock Falls in Northern Ontario, and was diagnosed with cancer during the Winter Olympics.