Minnesota Wild has been regular playoffs participant this past decade but failed to approach Stanley Cup glory. According to their forward Zach Parise, they are now “running out chances” to do so due to their veterans-filled roster.
Wild are set to resume the NHL season with a best-of-five series against Vancouver Canucks. The winner of the series will get to advance to the first round of Stanley Cup playoffs.
In a recent conference call with reporters, Parise said that Wild has to use this opportunity as they might not get more of them in the future.
“Regardless of the situation and how these playoffs are taking shape, I look at myself too, you’re running out of chances,” said Parise. “In the back of guys’ minds, we’re an older team; we’ve got guys in the early and mid-30s. You don’t get these [chances] all the time.”
Parise, who turns 36 this month, hopes that the veterans will be the ones that will get Wild over the hump.
“We’re still playing in the playoffs, still playing for the Stanley Cup,” he added. “Outside of Eric (Staal, who won a championship with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006), none of us have won. We have to lead the way and be a part of the success in the playoffs.”
The closest Minnesota Wild came to Stanley Cup was Conference Finals in 2002/03 season, where they were swept by Anaheim Ducks. Paris was part of Minnesota’s team that got to Conference Quarterfinals in 2012/13, but since then, it was all first or second-round exits.
Paris almost won Stanley Cup during the 2011/12 season, when he reached the finals with New Jersey Devils. Unfortunately for him, Devils lost the series 4-2 to Los Angeles Kings.
