Parenteau was relatively productive for New Jersey last season considering the club finished near the bottom (third from last) in scoring as a team. The 34-year-old winger offered up 27 points (12 goals, 14 assists) over 59 games before the club traded him to a contending team in Nashville. The depth up front led to a reduced role in the offense and he finished with just one assist over eight regular-season games with the Predators, also failing to notch a point in an additional five playoff appearances. He's inked a professional tryout agreement with the Red Wings but was ultimately released, making him a free agent just three days before the start of the new season.
Coming off a career-best 67-point campaign with the Islanders in 2011-12, the late-blooming Parenteau signed a lucrative long-term deal and left Long Island for the Rocky Mountains in Denver. After a very good lockout-shortened 2013 season, Parenteau has bounced around the league to three different teams over the last two years. Most recently, he rounded back into form by tying his career best with 20 goals on the rebuilding Maple Leafs. Being one of the more serviceable journeymen in the league, Parenteau’s signing with the Islanders this July for his second stint with the team has the makings to be one of the more underrated of the season. The Quebec native figures to play alongside elite center John Tavares in hopes that they can regain the chemistry that made them a formidable duo in years past.
Which Parenteau will show up for the Leafs? The hard-working Islander who potted 20 goals one season and 49 assists the next, or the $4 million healthy scratch who found himself beside Snoopy in the Canadiens’ doghouse? The Leafs are betting a modest $1.5 million that he’ll be closer to the former than the latter, and Parenteau himself agrees. He’s ready to show the NHL he can still play, and he's working to earn something more than the one-year deal he has with the Leafs. Parenteau will get his shot to do that on the second line alongside Tyler Bozak and likely Daniel Winnik. He’s certainly motivated, and as long as he’s healthy, he could provide 40-45 points.
Despite averaging 17.5 goals over the past four seasons, Parenteau was surprisingly traded to Montreal over the summer for Daniel Briere. Apparently, Parenteau had fallen out of favor with Avalanche coach Patrick Roy, but he’ll look to find a more welcoming NHL home in Montreal. The Habs were looking for some help on right wing, and Parenteau fills that need. He should offset the on-ice loss of Brian Gionta. Parenteau could slot in on the second line with Tomas Plekanec, though it's not hard to envision notorious line-juggler Michel Therrien moving him around a bit. His exact role will be determined in training camp.
Parenteau had a breakout season for the Avs last year, scoring a team high 18 goals and tying Matt Duchene for the team lead in points with 43. He was primarily a set-up man before coming to Colorado, but he showed a sniping side beside Duchene -- those 18 goals (48 games) matched his total in 82 games in 2011-12. He will play alongside Duchene again this season, and that could result in a 30-goal, 70-point campaign. But keeper leaguers beware -- how many guys peak after 30? Yes, Parenteau turned 30 during this past season. Keep your finger on the trade trigger, particularly if someone wants to overpay.
Parenteau, who signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Avalanche in June, is coming off two very good campaigns with the Islanders in which he averaged 60 points per season with just three games missed. He could turn out to be the game-breaking right-winger the Avs have been lacking the last couple of seasons. Parenteau is a good complementary player and should slot into a spot beside either Matt Duchene or Ryan O'Reilly, and that should continue to deliver him -- and you -- fantasy points.
Parenteau had the best season of his career last year with the Isles, as he potted 20 goals and added 33 assists. Nine of those goals came on the power play, which was a pleasant surprise. More good news for Parenteau is that he meshed very well with John Tavares and should remain on the top line at least to start this season.
Parenteau is the kind of player the Islanders are loaded with. Third or fourth line player who may score 10 goals if your lucky. Just not much upside here.
Parenteau seems to be destined for a life of hockey's equivelant of a 'Quadruple-A' player. He's been dominant in the AHL, but hasn't gotten many shots in the NHL and doesn't figure to get an extended look this season. At 26, he's hardly a prospect.
Parenteau should be nowhere near a fantasy team right now. Parenteau had 34 goals and 81 points in 75 games for Hartford of the AHL last season.
Traded to Chicago in Dec. of 2006. Parenteau is a capable, scoring winger who should begin the season in the AHL.
