The first day of free agency in the NHL saw plenty of players secure long-term, big-money contracts. Over $600 million was awarded to a total of over 100 free agents. One name which wasn’t mentioned during the first day of signings was PA Parenteau which was fairly surprising considering he was coming off a 20-goal season with one of the worst teams in hockey. The Islanders later locked up Parenteau to a one-year, $1.25 million contract which may be one of the best values in hockey.
Parenteau skated with the Isles back in 2010-11 and 2011-12, scoring 38 goals and 82 assists (120 total points). John Tavares was still a newcomer in the NHL during those two seasons and yet the Islanders’ offense thrived as Tavares grew and Parenteau offered offensively stability. It remains to be seen whether the two will share the same line, but Parenteau’s previous time with the Isles provides a pretty solid benchmark for what may be in store for 2016-17.
At age 33, Parenteau isn’t as fast as he once was and might not be quite as sharp offensively. That being said, he’s a fairly reliable source of goals in a league where goals are pretty tough to find. In 2015-16, Parenteau scored 20 goals on the Maple Leafs which was one hell of an accomplishment. His 20 goals and 41 total points were secured by the Isles for only $1.25 million. There isn’t a guarantee he’ll be able to repeat that performance, but an educated guess suggests he should have an easier time contributing by skating with the Islanders.
The free agency period is still in its infancy, but the Parenteau deal might be the best value of the bunch.
