Position: Right Wing
Height: 6'0"
Birthdate: March 24th, 1983 (28 years old)
Birthplace: Hull, Quebec, Canada
Acquired: Signed Free Agent, 2010
2010-2011 Team: New York Islanders
2010-2011 Stats: 81 GP - 20 G - 33 A - 53 P - 46 PIM
2011-2012 Team: New York Islanders
Team Role: Top 9 Forward
Last year: Being given a shot on an NHL team permanently for the most time (and playing with a budding superstar in John Tavares on the first line at that), Parenteau took advantage of his opportunity and showed that, while with flaws, he can last on an NHL team and produce plenty. Parenteau put up a very respectable 53 points while helping to push forward a PP that so desperately missed Mark Streit last year. Parenteau was not very responsible defensively, and definitely had a lot of moments that made you question his general level of ability on an NHL level, but for what he was worth performed to a good level. He did improve as the season went on and seemed to learn the NHL game a bit more, and the chemistry he developed with Matt Moulson and John Tavares became extremely solid.
Expectations: Parenteau could end up on either the first line again with Tavares or Moulson or possibly even the 3rd or 4th line, depending on if the experiment with Nino Niederreiter on the first line is taken into the season by Jack Capuano. There certainly was great chemistry on the first line last year with Parenteau's playmaking ability, Moulson's accuracy and JT's all around game, but perhaps Capuano feels room for improvement on the first line with a future star in Niederreiter. It's all up to Capuano at this point, but we should still see a 45-50+ point season from Parenteau considering he will most likely be utilized on the PP at times again this year. Considering last year was technically his rookie year, it's not too lofty an expectation to expect an improvement.
Projections: GP 80 - 23 G - 35 A - 58 P
Thoughts:
AT: Parenteau was absolutely hammered for his defensive liability - and rightly so - by many fans for most of the season, but I thought he really picked up his game as the season went down the stretch. He certainly has ability and comes off as Matt Moulson Junior: an AHL castoff who was never considered for the NHL until one team finally gave him a shot. He might not have the pure shooting skill Moulson does, but he's fit in pretty well on the first line and chemistry is not something you remove easily. Parenteau re-signed with the Islanders for a 1 year deal, so they could be getting a 50+ point player for less than $1.5m for this coming year. Say what you want about Garth Snow, but that's using statistics and basic logic to win games. No, Parenteau isn't the player most people want on their first line, but if he's putting up 50+ points in his rookie season, he's someone you highly consider if you want to win.
CH: Parenteau did put a solid season together on the first line last year, but he is by no means a long-term option there. A stopgap in every sense of the word, the Islanders will need to upgrade his spot in the lineup to get better long term. This could be internal (Niederreiter/Strome) or external. That said, for this year he is fine on the first line. Like Alex said, he should put up somewhere around 50 points, but that's mostly due to playing with John Tavares. Either way, the trio of Matt Moulson, Tavares, and Parenteau clearly have chemistry. Given that the Isles could certainly use that production, I would not cry foul about him in the spot for this season. But next year, that will have to change barring a true breakout season from Parenteau.
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