In professional sports, its common to see a team send its injured player to the minors for rehabilitation purposes. The MLB regularly sends its injured players to AAA and the NBA puts their players through the G-league. However, it’s unusual to see an NHL team send a star player to the AHL. The Minnesota Wild are breaking the norm, and sending one of its best to the Iowa Wild before returning to league action.
Dynamic forward and assistant captain Zach Parise has been sidelined for the entire 2017-18 season with a back injury and will get his first taste of action in the coming week. Head Coach Bruce Boudreau was the first to reveal Parise might play for Iowa, but insisted it was up to the 33-year-old.
Shortly after, the Wild released a statement by Parise which stated he has been cleared for contact and that he will hopefully play with Iowa in their game tomorrow against the Rockford IceHogs.
The Minneapolis, Minnesota native is coming off of a down-year in which he recorded 42 points; his lowest total in an 82 game season since his rookie campaign in 2005-06 (32). The Wild could use his help as they’re currently sitting outside of the playoffs with an 18-15-3 record. Minnesota ranks 19th in the NHL with 100 goals in 39 games.
Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images
Parise previously played in the American League in the 2004-05 season, where he scored 18 goals and 40 assists in 73 games with the New Jersey Devils' AHL affiliate Albany River Rats. He was later named an all-star at just 20 years old.
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If you’re an Iowa or Rockford fan you’re in luck because you’ll probably never come across a cheaper opportunity to see Parise in action. The game will be played in Rockford’s BMO Harris Bank Center and are selling for as low as $9 American.
Parise’s energetic presence has been missed and his return is great news for hockey fans.
(H/T Minnesota Wild)
