Is P.A. the “right” fit with the Franchise?
By Alan Avital
Languishing through two-a-half years in the New York Rangers’ top minor league affiliate The Hartford Wolf Pack, right winger P.A. Parenteau was hoping his goal-scoring talent would result in a permanent call-up to the National Hockey League. Unfortunately, a brief 22-game audition didn’t impress the organization enough to offer the then 26-year old a one-way contract with the major club.
Hoping to make the most of his 83 goals in a 184-game span with the Wolf Pack, Islanders general manager Garth Snow decided to take a flyer on the Hull, QC, Canada native prior to the 2010-11 campaign.
Parenteau opened some eyes during training camp, earning a spot on the team’s top line, playing alongside Matt Moulson and John Tavares. He notched a career-high 20 goals, while dishing out 33 assists, becoming one of the team’s feel good stories of the season.
But entering his second season on the Island after inking a one-year, 1.25-million at the end of last season, questions mounted on whether Parenteau would once again earn first-line minutes with Tavares.
Was his feel-good story just a one-year wonder?
2010 first round draft pick Nino Neiderreiter was battling Parenteau throughout training camp for that coveted slot next to the team’s newest $33 million dollar man, but a groin injury has sidelined the 19-year old Swiss for the time being. He is expected to miss a week’s time, enabling Parenteau to once again make his case.
However, is Neiderreiter’s injury a blessing in disguise for Parenteau or a crutch in Tavares’ development to taking that crucial next step to elite status?
Neiderreiter, who notched an impressive 77 goals in his two seasons in Portland for the Western Hockey League’s Winterhawks, possesses a physical presence that Parenteau lacks and a hulking 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame, which would enable Tavares to survey the ice with those magical hands. Parenteau, on the other hand, possesses a lightning quickness, which would allow for odd-man rushes with himself, Tavares and Moulson.
This question might take the 2011-12 season to answer, and should make second-year coach Jack Capuano’s job that much more difficult especially if Parenteau takes his game to the next level, a site quite familiar for the former Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach.
Can this organization, who have high hopes of securing an Eastern Conference playoff spot, stunt the growth of its franchise player by waiting to see if Parenteau has first-line staying power or is it time for the talented teenager to bump the career minor leaguer into uncertainty?
40 Responses to Is P.A. the “right” fit with the Franchise?
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A Real hockey fan. says:
.. Parenteau is a guy who needs some consistency to take it to the next level, last season was nice but he dissapeared for 2-3 games at times last year. If he brings it for 80 games he will be a bigger force. Nino is even more ‘green and raw’ and a different player (more physical) Not 100% sure if either are first line players especially Nino who just turned 19!
.. As far as Taveras if hes truly the great player we think/know he is (I think he is!) — John will actually help elevate his wingers/linemates games, thats what great players will do over time!!
.. Nice job ‘keeping the site’ going without CB guys, its not exactly the same but you guys are starting to put up a better effort and i appreciate it, keep it up guys!!
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Amtb says:
That* (yes I get the irony of a typo when calling something else unreadable)
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corey says: P.A. is good for the top line for now. Last year he put up good points in his first full year in the NHL so why shouldnt the numbers go up this year? He played well and that line has good chemistry, but I think we can all agree he is not a first liner on most NHL teams. I feel he will get this year on the first line then second or third line next year if he does stay with us. With Nino why put him right on the first line against the other team’s best defensemen? It might be better for him to learn the NHL game on the seond or third line this year.
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martin says:
Amtb, what does that mean?
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I think PA is a good fit for the Islanders at this time as his 2 assists against Wild today attests. Also, I think Nino should be brought more slowly, hopefully at least a year in Bridgeport before even THINKING about playing with the Islanders full time.
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Bob E says:
admittedly i was not a PA fan when we got him. but he has definately earned his mins. as much as i want to see Nino on top line. I think its going to be hard for him to displace PA off that line.
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BeeDubbs says:
He’s not first line good.
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Jon in Chicago says: Right. Only on this team is Parenteau a first-line player. I’m not sure Nino is ready to fill that role either just yet. I guess Cap can take his time figuring that out, but P.A. is definitely a quality NHL player that should have a role on the Isles.
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Joe says:
PA stinks, he doesn’t/can’t battle for pucks. Plays pillow soft. I can’t wait for Nino to be on that line.
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Ari From Long Island says:
PAP should stay on the first line. That line has great chemistry, and like Moulson, I believe PAP will prove that he is not a one year wonder. Leave that line intact and Let Nino learn on a lesser line for at least a portion of the season.
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markp says:
Let Nino play a month on line 3 with Bailey and Comoeu to get his NHL feet wet….then when line 1 needs a pick me up….Nino will get his shot.
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streit02 says:
maybe as a 3rd liner, you cant have Tavares riding shotgun to Moulson & Parentau if this team is going to have any real success down the road. 50 points for a 1st line player getting 1st line minutes are NOT good #’s. Its actually terrible. Moulson should not be on a 1st line either. Technically, he is there only because he was friends with Tavares. Moulson benefits from JT’s passing and that is why he has scored 30 goals each year. Moulson provides little, if anything else to that line other than finishing on some nice looks from Tavares. Look how JT performs when he plays in world tournaments with quality players around him. He leads in goals and points all the time.
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Battfist says:
Big year for PA.
Between Nino getting some of his minutes with the top line and the Isles having some wingers coming into the system next season, he’ll have to prove his worth. -
kingbet123 says:
PA played well today…..he knows he can’t let down. Isles have more depth and if he doesn’t play well, he’ll lose his spot.
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Erika says:
P.A.is not the biggest or strongest player, but say what you want…the guy always finds a way to put up points. If its working why change it? I am more concerned about Bailey and Okposo, both have been invisible in the first 2 games. Maybe put Okposo on the first line for a game or a few shifts to see what happens. Generally though, I like when they keep the lines together, as they get used to each other they play much better. I would also give Strome a game.
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Strummer's Army says:
Parenteau is a garbage player and never has deserved a spot on the top line. His NHL success is a result of playing with Tavares and Moulson. I have no idea why Snow/Gordon inserted PA on line 1 from day 1 of camp without every allowing for competition.Nino won the job this year unquestioned. There is no spot for PA on this team. He provides zero toughness, no hitting, little offense, he is terrible on defense and his mistakes lead to a lot of goals against, and he take unnecessary penalties. PA needs to leave and fast! Why a career AHL’er was awarded first line & first PP over guys like Okposo is crazy.
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isles84 says:
i was just thinking this over before i came on this site which is ironic and nino definitely deserves a shot at the top line when he comes back. garth has publicly stated he doesnt want nino up if he cant play in the top 6 bc thats where he fits in in the future of this team. PA will not be signed this offseason by us. i dont think he has it in him to take that line to the next level. he holds tavares and moulson back..
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nyc dork says:
Okposo should be on the top line. Nino and KO play similar styles but KO is faster yet he is not on the top line or the first PP unit. What up with that? And then people have the nerve to say KO better prove himself this year.
PA is decent on the half wall during the PP but i hate the fact he is retarding KO’s progression.
In my eyes PA is a good utility player and nothing else. -
James from Swindles says:
On the one hand, PAP reminds me of Mariusz Czerkawski: decent player, likeable guy who will put up respectable numbers in the right situation.
On the other hand, watch him take the puck in the attack zone, particularly on the PP. No Islander is calmer with the puck than him (with defenders attacking him). Great guy along the boards, great on the PP.
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Dan C says:
I have never seen a player on the first line in the NHL cough the puck up more than this guy. He puts up points, but I think this is the one area where the franchise has really slipped up during this rebuild. John Tavares has poor linemates. Matt Moulson is a solid player, but not even close to a first line talent. PA has shown flashes of offensive skill, but has no business as an NHL top six forward, much less a first line forward. Nino, to me, is Matt Moulson’s long term replacement, and hopefully Ryan Strome becomes the playmaker that completes the trio. In the mean time, Garth Snow needs to find a player who can really bring out the best in our franchise player
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Paul says:
KO on the first line. LOL! The guy sucks offensively.
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If PA can truely take his level up, then he will be a uge asset for another line. You have to have Nino with JT….
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hes on a one year deal with the club, so the team isn’t married to him. hes a place holder, until Nino is ready for the first line. But hes an NHL class player, and there is space for him on this club.
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hale says:
to post six…nino is not able to play in the AHL yet..its juniors or the NHL
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PA is leading the team in scoring already!
But I say, Let NINO fly. Its gonna be fun to watch Cappy figure this one out!
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jeff w says:
JT needs a winger who can carry the puck into the zone and get him the puck to set up plays…pap is the only guy at this point who can do that. problem is he is weak in other areas….. ko is a digger…grabner a run and gunner, moulson a front of the net guy..comeau a shooter on a good day….unless a prospect like nino, petrov, kabonov or strome can and is ready to do this than pap will be our man. I think a trade would be best for the time being if the right guy was available…perhaps if the flames keep losing iginla will be on the market
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doggyondown says:
lightning quickness really?? are we watching the same guy. I would say he is a 3/4 line guy and could be on the second team pp. Anythiing else is a stretch.
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Amtb says:
@corey – I was correcting a typo in a previous comment where I criticized the quality of the writing on the site. That comment was censored, sadly.
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Don says:
Agree that PA is a 3/4 line guy on other teams but became a 1st line guy here by default.
Since this is another rebuilding year its time for Nino to be on the 1st line where he belongs. This way he’ll get used to playing with JT and MM for the next year or 2 until the team is ready to compete for a playoff spot.
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Mike O says:
No disrespect for P.A. but if this franchise wants to take the next step forward, they have to place a better player on JT’s line.
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itsuksbeingislesfan says:
you guys want to all relax a little ,theres 80 games to play still , geez calm down already with the player bashing
say something after 40 games , like whos MIA or who sucks but two games guys ,really -
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat says:
Pa should be on the first line for now and niño should be on the third
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Michael Pastore says:
1. PA Parenteau is a poor mans Derek King. He is horrible. The only reason why he got to 20 goals last season is because JT and MM force fed him the last 4 goals after the Islanders were officialy eliminated. As soon as Pierre got traded King’s career went straight down. The same with PA as soon as he leaves JT and MM you will see a 10-12 goal forward. At least King was still able to score 20 goals without Pierre.
2. On any other team he would not even sniff 1st line duty. The only reason he even had a chance last season was because KO got hurt.
3. At best he is a mediocre 2nd line player. He is not suited for 3rd or 4th line duty. Not good enough defensively and certainly not a enforcer.
4. As soon as Nino is ready he will be on the 3rd line and we will see how many goals he scores this season.
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hollywood says:
PA is a point producer and would be fine on the second or third line. Nino should play with JT and MM. The first line needs size and speed. PA could take Comeau’s spot if and when they trade him.
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handlanger says:
Ligthning speed? Seriously…. he is not slow but this – definately not. He puts up some points, but in each and every game there are 5-6 moments were I hate him. Awfully bad passes, many many giveaways, super soft play. Not a fan of PA. And to #12: You only insert Nino to Bailey’s line if you want to ruin the kid.
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Dan C. says:
-Considering he had a hand in both goals yesterday, the timing of this blog seems a bit odd.
-He’s signed for one season. Would the Isles be better off without PAP for this year? I don’t see why. They need a player with some skill right now, as Kabanov is at least a year away and Strome isn’t likely to stick around after 9 games, if that.
-The spot was clearly there for Nino’s taking. He got hurt and now PAP is back on the top line. We’ll see what happens when Niederreiter comes off the IR.
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mike says:
P.A. has done a nice job. The person who carries the puck the most is going to turn it over every once in a while. I havent seen enough of Nino to say one way or the other. Saying Moulson doesn’t belong with Tavares is foolish. Back to back 30 goal seasons speak for itself. He is very much like Graves was with Messier. Sorry for the Rangers reference. Anyway, time will tell, but this team has hope. Would like to see more out of Rolston, but understand he missed all of camp. Should he not play well we may have a spot for Nino with Comeau and Bailey.
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Billy the Kid says:
PA has a lot of flaws in his game, but he can fill in for a while. Some things he does do well are handle and control the puck, and somehow, he manages to get on the scoresheet.
We can and will do better than PA in every other aspect of the game, and will likely replace his scoring with more scoring, but for now he is here until we find someone bumps him. -
Adam from Astoria says:
Streit 02:
I must disagree with you vehemently on your assessment of Moulson: I love Tavares too, but the guy has not yet been all star caliber (maybe borderline). To say that Moulson’s on the line w/ Tavares just because he’s Tavares’s friend I think is really silly. There are wingers playing with very good centers just as good as Tavares who haven’t scored 60+ goals the past two seasons. He’s a quality goal scorer.
Watching today there were many players that pretty much seemed invisible. PA was NOT one of them. He played pretty well and notched two assists. As much as I want Nino to see big minutes with JT… PA put up decent numbers last year…so if its working out pretty well, then why mess with it?