PARRISH SIGNS TRYOUT DEAL WITH BRIDGEPORT
1:45 pm - The ex-Islander speaks with Point Blank
1:45 pm - Ever since July 30, when the Minnesota Wild bought out the final three years of his contract, Mark Parrish heard it all from friends and advisors:
“Be patient. In a league where scoring’s at a premium, you’ll have your pick of teams.”
“Whatever you do, don’t sign a deal in Europe when you know an NHL deal is bound to come up.”
“The last thing you need to do is go back to the minors. Even if it means sitting out camp, wait for the right deal from an NHL team.”
So Parrish, the 31-year old former Islander, waited - until he practically lost his mind.
“You know me, I can’t sit still for very long,” Parrish told Point Blank this afternoon. “I was getting all this advice, all well-meaning advice, but it didn’t change the fact that I wasn’t getting any offers. There have been some days when I was just going nuts not being able to play hockey…anywhere.
“But look, it wasn’t like I was feeling sorry for myself. I was just frustrated. There are a lot of pretty good players with NHL resumes who are having trouble getting back in. Who am I to act like I was owed anything”?
Parrish’s 25-game contract is with Bridgeport of the AHL, so the Islanders do not owe him anything, nor have they made him any promises about an NHL job. What they have done is given an old friend, an honest worker and accessible personality his first time here, the chance to get back on his feet. It could be with the Islanders. It could be with any of 30 NHL teams.
“It was funny. I looked at a few options and decided Bridgeport was the best opportunity,” Parrish said today. “I spoke with Garth Snow. He said, ‘Why don’t you take a night and sleep on it.’? I tell ya, there wasn’t any sleeping that night. I just want to get back to playing hockey. We called him the next morning and said, ‘Let’s do this’ and ‘Thanks.’
“I know the organization. It’s where I had some of my best years. Ownership was great to me and I left on really friendly terms with the team. The fans were tremendous to me. (Sound Tigers coach) Jack Capuano is direct and fair. I know Cappy from when he was an assistant with the Islanders. He knows I’m going to be a good teammate to all of his prospects in Bridgeport.
“It got to the point where I was so tired of hearing ‘You don’t have to do this’ and ‘You don’t have to do that’ to get back into the NHL. I’m a hockey player. I’m dying to play hockey. And now I get to do it with an organization that always treated me and my family first-class. I’m really grateful.”
****
12:55 pm - Scott Gordon on whether news like the Mark Parrish AHL tryout deal (see below) has any effect on the Islanders’ stated vision to rebuild:
“The younger players always have to earn it, they have to deserve it, they have to perform,” said Gordon. “The onus is on the younger players to make sure no one takes their job.
“If everything is equal, we’re better served with the younger player. There’s more room for growth and development. We’re not going to trade an apple for an apple.”
****
12:38 pm - Former Islanders right wing Mark Parrish has agreed to a tryout contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. The Sound Tigers are the Islanders’ top minor league affiliate.
Parrish, whose deal is for a 25-game tryout, is expected to start practicing with Bridgeport next Tuesday after passing a physical. A friend of Parrish’s told Point Blank that he’s “ecstatic” to have the opportunity in an organization where “he loved to play and today still has a strong relationship with Garth Snow and many of the players.”
Prior to this season, the popular ex-Isle was bought out of his long-term deal with his home-state Minnesota Wild. According to a source, he considered offers in Europe before deciding to re-boot his NHL career with some time in the AHL.
At this point it would be inaccurate to consider Parrish an Islander-in-waiting. This is a veteran player with close ties to the organization who needed a place to play, and the Islanders were happy to provide it. As a 25-gamer with Bridgeport, Parrish can still sign later on with any franchise that wants him at the NHL level.
70 Responses to “PARRISH SIGNS TRYOUT DEAL WITH BRIDGEPORT
1:45 pm - The ex-Islander speaks with Point Blank”
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Interesting
Here’s to hoping he has a wonderful tryout and maybe gives us a roster problem (in opportunity) at the NHL level.
Whatever happened to his career? When he was here he was on his way to being a genuine top 6 foward but as soon as he as traded by mad Mike it was like he took a nose dive and never recovered.
I hope he will bring good old times to our team being the best player in front deflecting pucks to the net. This news are going to be even better if he makes the team.
WOW, that’s great news!
And Im certainly glad its going this way than the Isles picking him up contract and all, as I had seen suggested. this is much better! Best of luck to Parrish… who knows, this might be a great thing!
Thumbs up for this one.
I said it when the Wild first bought him out…he’s not right for this team. I hope this is just a nice gesture by the organization to one of it’s more popular players over the last decade (i.e. giving him a place to showcase his stuff until he signs on somewhere else). I’m a fan of Parrish but not if it means we bring him up in place of Comeau.
That is the end of Blake Comeau this year!
He fights right into the rebuilding plan. (Insert Sarcasm)
@Jax: he signed with Bridgeport, not the big club. Maybe they want to see what he has left in the tank. Maybe it’s Garth helping a good friend try and get back into the NHL. But what it isn’t *yet* is the Isles throwing the “youth movement” under the bus. Scott Gordon’s comments above seem to bear that out.
Sorry Don, but I don’t trust a thing this team says. They treat us like we are idiots.
Too bad Garth isn’t 25, THEN we’d really like the fact he exclusively signs friends. Are you old? Are you washed up? Are you a friend of Garth Snow’s? Well do WE have a job for you! 25 game try-out, bah!! Parrish will sign a one-way NHL deal within a month. Garth is a good friend. GM? Not so much.
This guy does NOT hustle on his side of the red line.
Our organization must be worse off than we thought.
WHY? WHY?
OVERSPEED <—- key to Gordon’s “System”????
The Isles brass did say they wanted to use this at both the Bridge and NHL level no?
Mark Parrish’s complacency in Minnesota along with his salary cost him a roster spot.
This move defies logic. and Don, yes it most certainly is Garth Snow “helping a good friend” but the franchise and the “REBUILD” IMO does not benefit from moves like this.
WTF? Can we ever move forward without looking BACK??
How does it defy logic when he’s paying in Bridgeport? You can rebuild in many ways. When the the coach of the Tigers is implementing the same system as the coach in the NHL the only thing that differs from “The Plan” is the opposing talent.
imo he was brought in to get the kids to turn it up a notch. i don’t think we’ll see him with nyi long term.
He’s playing for the Sound Tigers people, he hasn’t made the team… (should i say “yet”?)
I always thought Parrish was a good leader when he was here. If he can bring that leadership to some of the young guys at BP, that’s a benefit…particularly for Comeau. If he cracks the NHL roster, though, I’d rather see it done by trading a couple of lower-line vets for pucks than by taking a roster spot from “kids” who are supposed to be evaluated this year. Even if it’s one of the kids that looks bad, he should fall flat playing a lot of minutes for a season so we can do away with the “never got a real chance” line of thought.
to stevedepot: i agree completely, couldnt have said it better. only thing i can remember Parrish doin well is standing in front of net for tips and rebounds, and that dose NOT fit in with the new overspeed system at all! …bad move by Garth Snow
This is good on many levels: the kids on the farm get another pro to work with- believe me, he still has some value, and has plenty of experience (if not only the fact that he can tell them, “work hard or you might end up like me”).
If he can’t hack overspeed down there, he won’t be brought up, its that simple. Call it a courtesy, it doesn’t matter.
That Garth didn’t bring him to the Island right away shows the plan is still in motion. This is a good thing.
calm down everyone. No reason to get all excited about a 25 game AHL contract. If he’s better than comeau this season, so be it. Let comeau develop his game in Connecticut.
Bad move by Garth? Who was the last person in a Sound Tiger uniform with the respect that Mark Parrish brings?
CT Isles Fan on.
Please read carefully. Mark Parrish, if you watched him carefully his last season here and during the course of his 2 year stint in Minnesota, became a lazy player. Rarely did he hustle to pick up his check on his side of the redline. He has bad habits. We don’t need HIM at the Bridge around impressionable youngsters thanks to Garth Snow’s charity. WE KNOW it’s a TRYOUT contract. He can sign with any NHL team and ask yourself this. Why did NO other experienced NHL GM call Mark back?
NYI365 - A lot of the Islanders’ goals this year (not that there have been too many!) came by crashing the net, getting bodies there, and screening the goalie. I think that has a role in the new system.
I do, though, agree that if Parrish cracks the NHL club, adding him to Weight, Sim, Guerin, Sillinger, and Hunter doesn’t really jive with a so-called “overspeed” system.
If Parrish makes it to the Islanders roster this season and Comeau is still in the minors, then I feel this may be a step back from the “rebuilding plan.” However, if Parrish stays in the minors and is used as a solid mentor, even a solid player, than this plan may actually be better than previously thought. The only reasons he should be brought up to the NHL level is if there are injuries to certain players, or if the youngsters just cannot hack it at the present time.
It is not right to bash on Garth. We must see how this situation plays out, and than after the 25 games we can pass judgment.
o-town said it best: “if he can’t hack overspeed down there, he won’t be brought up.” This is what it is: a tryout for a former 30-goal scorer with an AHL club to see if he can cut the mustard on the NHL level some day. Maybe for the Isles, maybe not, but that remains to be seen.
With more thought, it’s actually pretty sad that a former 30-goal scorer can’t get a job in this league. Is he just asking for too much money?
I think is is more of a gesture from the NYI to help he catch on with a team and for them to get someone on the BP squad that can teach some of the kids the ropes. Best case situation he is motovated and suprises everyone, but odds are he plays well and signs with another team after some injuries set it.
This could be a nice signing. If Parrish can handle the “overspeed” then I think he could be brought up here. Then again I don’t want him taking the spot of Comeau, but if he’s not going to kill the rebuilding plan, he could be a good fit standing in front of the net with Guerin and Weight.
Did you hear what DP said in the newsday article? He wants to win NOW. So does Guerin and Weight. If Parrish shows that he is better than one of the kids, then so be it. The kids will be around and they can always learn the system in the Bridge.
The only thing killing our rebuilding plan is the lack of good prospects!!!
If all works out maybe this is the end for Wotton in Bport. We’re stacked on the blue line and really dont need Wotton and Parrish can take over the vet/leadership role…
CT Isles Fan - the only problem there is that we already have all these so-called kids who are really in their mid-20s. Giving them another year at the Bridge is kind of pointless. Better to just get them evaluated properly this year and cut ties with them if they can’t hack it rather than keeping them around even longer in limbo. And Parrish…it’s not like they picked up a true difference-maker that will get them any closer to winning now, if that means getting deep in the playoffs.
The move works if Parrish gets on the NHL lineup by moving out a 4th line vet, not if he gets there by sending a tweener down for more evaluation, in my opinion.
WOW, I cant believe the complaining!
He is doing the same thing that Sugden is doing, whats with the hysteria? and whats with acting like Garth just gave him a miltiyear deal with the Islanders? Read what Chris Botta said, some of you have this totally wrong and are complaining about stuff that is only in your misinterpretation of what took place.
It seems to me that this is more than just a charity move by Snow for an old friend. Being that they are using the Overspeed System (OS) up in Bridgeport, I think it’s an opportunity for Mark to prove he can handle OS. If the team is competing at the quarter-pole, why not add a solid PP guy to the roster?
I don’t see where the betrayal of the youth movement is in this. Would it really kill Blake Comeau to spend a full season in Bridgeport learning OS if that is what management feels he needs? Especially if it means giving a chance to a guy who not too long ago was an important part of this team?
I hope he does not go the island at all. Youth movement, that means you win and lose (and alot) with youth. Lecavlier in tampa was not really good until 4-5 years in th nhl. let the kids play. I say if someone wants guerin and weight give them the two and play tambellini and okposo for 20 minutes a game. If parrish is back with the isles then it is a half hearted youth movement, we need to destroy the thing before it can be built up and that means youth youth youth. and while on the subject get rid of comrie when youstill have a chance.
Can we expect Bates next? I thought we were ready to put the past behind us? I for one am ready for the rebuild no matter how many games we lose. And I am a STH who is saying this. So it’s my money I am willing to spend to see the rebuild done right. We need to stick with the plan. I believe it will eventually pay HUGE dividends (as in Stanley Cup).
Mixed emotions. Love Parry as a personality and for his past contributions. Not sure if a right fit.
Net/Net - its an AHL contract. Lets give Parry 25 games and see what he has - and the rest of the NHL will too.
I just hope THE WRECKER gets some ice time !!
- but what if we get a ton of injuries at the NHL level and AHL level? Insurance (in terms of depth of organization) is a good thing - and can’t imagine the cost is significant having Parry with the Port and has NO impact on our Cap figures………………….
lets see how it goes.
yeah baby, bringing back 2002 for you guys!! do you like my signing? i’m such an amazing GM.
i’m still working on bringing back Yashin and Czercawski because both are 40 goal scorers who will help bring the cup to my home on long island!
1.- Parrish is in all likelyhood not going to see any time with the Isles…
2.- To everyone debating if having Parrish on the Isles roster would betray the whole youth movement ideals…Of course it does, he is a slow over 30 player that will do nothing for this team’s long term success…
3.- definition of a youth movement is removing old, players for a younger cast…hmmm….9 players over the age of 31???…seems to be working well…
4.- such a signing smells of a lack of courage and direction from the top down…even if Parrish only plays 25 games in the AHL…
5.- There is a reason he received no, nadda, not one offer from any other NHL team…
who said the following and when was it said
‘a 20 goal scorer is nothing to sneeze at’
No worries. Only chance of Parrish coming up with an NHL contract to the Isles is to cover for an injury to one of our vets presently on the roster.
And thats only if a kid can’t replace that vet.
Who cares that Garth gave him a 25 game AHL contract! It’s an AHL contract!!! You’re all looking at it wrong. Look at in a business point a view. All you fans that loved Parrish will all go down to B’port now and pay for a ticket to see him. He’ll put a few more fans in the seats and that was the point of giving him a contract. If by some chance he plays good. You package him up down the rode for some picks. If he plays good there will be some team out there to pick him up for their 3rd or 4th line.
I wouldn’t read into it that much people!
I wouldn’t mind seeing Parry back on the team, he’s a guy who can definitely help our PP.
It’s not like we are completely forgetting about our rebuilding plan, its only 1 player, and come on, who would you rather see out there? Hilbert or Parrish?
If Parrish doesn’t EVER wear an Islanders uni again, this move is a non-factor. IF he does, than we know Garth & Charlie will stick their salary-dumping, err Youth Movement in a draw to help out a friend. Great guys, lousy hockey men, but real sweet guys. I Snow likes to cuddle. A real sweet guy.
I would rather see Hilbert, he is younger and faster…plus, sadly there production last season was similar… He is not the same player we all remembered back in 2002 or 2003. He is slower, older, this will make the team older and slower, if they bring him to the big team. He has an AHL contract…keep him there, let him be put in a mentoring role…period
Good for him, but not sure I agree with this move. For the first time in organization, kids don’t feel like their next shift is their last. If I’m one of them, I look at this and scratch my head. Got to be honest here, Nielsen looks like a legit NHL caliber center, and Tamby is fying on the wing and getting shots off. We knew this was going to be a rough year, so lets just be patient either these are the kids that get us to next step or they aren’t
I can’t believe all of this negative commentary. Did you think the damage done to the franchise by the previous GM would be fixed in a couple of months? Parrish may not be the fastest guy, but the Overspeed philosophy does not mean you get only ridiculously fast players. It means that everyone plays at their top speed (plus a little more) so they can knock the opponent back on their heels and make them make mistakes. Let’s have a little patience..this is a minimum of a 3-5 year project here.
Its a Win-Win Situation for the Islanders. Everyone is saying this is setting back the islanders youth movement. Bridgeport has no superstar goal scorers down there or any big time prospects, if parrish play 25 games and shows much needed goal scoring abilty - he will be on this team by Christmas. He always did a good job standing in front of the net on the powerplay…getting goals. At most what would he get a pro-rated 500k for the rest of the year.
We haven’t had a presence in front of the net in 4 years. It cant hurt to give him a tryout. hes a professional and great in the locker room.
Plus he survived living with bates and webb.
BREAKING NEWS: THE ISLANDERS HAVE SIGNED SHAWN BATES TO A 25 GAME TRYOUT WITH BRIDGEPORT…..HA
DID HE EVER SIGN WITH ANYONE?
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Garth the idiot on Oct 22nd, 2008 14:20:08 said:
yeah baby, bringing back 2002 for you guys!! do you like my signing? i’m such an amazing GM.
—————
Um, WHO is the idiot??? PARRISH WAS NOT SIGNED BY GARTH TO THE ISLANDERS- and at this point in time has absolutely nothing to do WITH the Islanders. Read!
TMC: does it ever seem like a good idea to respond to an emailer who logs in anonymously and goes by the name Garth The Idiot? Next time, please resist…thanks…CB
THIS IS GREAT NEWS!! WE NEED SCORING PEOPLE. WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!
Whatever. I don’t care unless it ends up affecting the big club. But honestly, as someone has stated before, can we ever move forward WITHOUT looking back? It’s kind of sad, although I loved Parrish and what he brought, we have enough Vet leadership on this team to help guide the kids.
i love all your enthusiasm but can u all get off the overspeed kick? this a crock of s&&t that is meant to detract us from remembering that this squad has very little up front skill. i assure u that come february u wont discern overspeed from a big pile of crap….now that being said in todays nhl where 6-8 pp chances a nite are not uncommon a guy willing to pay the price in front is invaluable. dont expect tambelinni or even guerin at this point to do that…….if parrish is willing to work and show he is committed there is no reaon he wont be an islander in december….if only i could stop thinking of kvasha every time i think of #27.
check that 37 thought peca was signing too….
Some statements are so offbase that they do not really deserve a response.
Dear Mark Parrish,
Please play well and Bridgeport and force Andy Hilbert off the team. How the Islanders can justify charging $100 a ticket to watch players like that is mind-boggling.
Good luck, Mark!
Mark Parrish would have finished FIFTH on the Isles in scoring last season. And we’re ripping Garth for giving him a tryout with the Sound Tigers?
THANK YOU “FOR THE RECORD”!!!
it’s unbelievable to read this kind of backlash for a 25 game tryout in your AHL club!! everyone’s upset because they know the KIDS ARE BAD and parrish will make the team if they continue to play the game the way they have.
who on this team looks good right now? trent hunter, kyle is looking ok, and i like the way weight is moving the puck. that’s it folks. we need goals.
There is probably a 1 in 10 chance of ever playing on the Island. However, with something to prove I would not be surprised to learn he has some game left but will more than likely do it with another organization. Besides, if he teaches one player at BP (how about Comeau) to deflect the puck in front of the net the way he did, it would be a worthwhile signing even if its just a favor for an old friend.
After 25 game in brigdeport you will see Parish on the powwerplay in front of the net chipping in those goals like old times for the Big Club(Isles). We need a guy to sit in front of the net and take that beating to get those dirty goals, that is what Parish does best! Good Luck Mark!!
I actually like this signing. Now granted I am boycotting the Isles from the Center Ice package this season, the radio internet feed is FREE and is about what this team is worth, but I will go see my boys lose 9-0 to the Caps twice however. Cuz the Puppetmaster and his puppet er Wang and Snow are garbage. Why not see what Parrish can do… I mean jeez this team scores like .50 goals a game so this might help us later if “The Overrated Real GM” doesn’t hurt his knee/hip/head again and somehow we are 9th heading into March. Uhh prospects jeez you guys fell for the jedi mind trick. We might have one legit prospect Oko and possibly Nielsen/Comeau… No other youngster is a prospect. Tamby C’mon…
Guys its a 25 game AHL contract relax its not like Garth Snow gave him a 15 year deal like he did the Guy in Goal.. he had good times here and I hope he can bring them back and if not no harm done
This really is a no risk signing. If he shows he’s rejuvinated in Bridgeport and can compete for a spot fine. More likely he could possibly be used as a replacement for a key vet that gets injured. Guys like Weight, Guerin, etc. are stopgap players while others advance through the system. Although the team is committed to rebuilding with youth many of the key pieces are still a couple of years away. If he does get called up he’s not taking a spot away from the real prospects, most of which are not even in Bridgeport yet.
This isnt the first time Ive totally agreed with you on here, Spinner.
“…the real prospects, most of which are not even in Bridgeport yet.”
^ And this really is a key point.
Great move, getting Parrish back in the system. It is a classy move that better organizations do all the time. In this case, it is also a comment on the so-called prospects on the team. Other than Okposo, there is current prospect that is a legit Top 6 forward/Top 4 dman. Tamby, Bergy, Colliton, Comeau, Neilsen are look like solid 3rd/4th line players. If Parrish helps the team win, that is the bottom line.
Whoops. “there is NO current prospect that is a legit Top 6/Top 4 dman”.
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