Why Colorado Avalanche signing Parise doesn’t make sense

The Colorado Avalanche are just behind the Winnipeg Jets in the West and are fighting to finish the 2023-24 season on top. Could a former rival be joining the team in hopes to earn a championship?

Zach Parise has been heavily rumored to be in the Avalanche’s plans going forward. The former Minnesota Wild has not played this season after his contract expired with the New York Islanders after two years there. He spent the first seven years of his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils before heading to Minnesota for another nine years.

If you had asked me several years ago if the Colorado Avalanche should sign Parise, I would consider it. However, as hinted in the last paragraph, Parise is just up there in age. He’s 39-years old and likely a reason he hasn’t signed with a team up to this point. Retirement could be on his mind and even with a one-year, veteran minimum contract, I just don’t know if it’s worth it.

The Colorado Avalanche have other needs on the team, and if they are looking to add someone to add to help out in the scoring department, I am sure there are younger guys who might have a chance to help this team beyond the 2023-24 season. That, to me, would be more worthwhile than signing a rental.

Ideally, obviously, Valeri Nichushkin will come back sooner than later (of course, pending the more important thing—his health), and we could possibly put the idea of Parise to bed. On the other side of the coin, if the Colorado Avalanche do in fact sign Parise, I suppose it is possible that he does make some sort of impact. Personally, being 39-years old seems like a pretty significant negative on this team.

Parise has played in 1,224 career games, and has 429 goals and 450 assists for a total of 879 career points. He has a plus-minus of +83.

What do you think of the possibility of the Colorado Avalanche signing Zach Parise?