It’s been over a month since the last time an NHL game was played, but the action continues in the league, this time with phones substituting for pucks, suits for uniforms, and general managers and agents for players. It’s the NHL free agency, baby. Although most of the top names have been scooped up, like Dougie Hamiton, Phillip Grubauer, and Phillip Danault among others,  there are still gobs of players in the free-agency market, waiting for the call and the right deal.

Most intriguing players left in 2021 NHL free agency

Zach Parise, LW

Parise was not supposed to be hitting the NHL free agency this year, as he had four more years left on the massive 13-year deal worth 98 million he signed with the Minnesota Wild back in 2012. But that was until Minnesota decided to buy him out following the 2020-21 NHL season. Parise is 37 and is clearly no longer the goal-scoring machine that he used to be, so there’s really not much leverage for him to use if he’s looking for a home run deal. However, he’s not a bad asset for a team looking to inject experience to the offense and some spark in the secondary lines, similar to the role Corey Perry had for the Montreal Canadiens last season.

There were previous rumors/reports  (via Michael Anderson of FanSided) that Parise would be reuniting with Lou Lamoriello, this time with the New York Islanders, but that no paper has been signed in the NHL free agency, as of this writing.

In his last season with Minnesota, Parise posted just seven goals to go with 11 assists in 45 games. He has not been a good possession player over the past years, as he was unable to reach at least 50 CF% (even strength) in each of his last two seasons.