P.A. Parenteau logged 27 NHL games with two teams before the 2010-11 season. His career tally was 3 goals and 6 assists. Now in mid-February, the Hull native has added 56 more games, 14 more goals and 21 more assists to his career ledger. He turned the opportunity the Isles gave him on their top line and powerplay unit into a regular NHL job at age 27. Now he'll have that job with the Islanders for at least another year, as he's agreed to terms with the Isles on a one-year deal, reported by Newsday's Katie Strang as $1.25 million.
"I'm really excited to stay on Long Island," said Parenteau. "The Islanders organization has given me the chance to prove that I belong in the NHL and I look forward to being a part of the success that is building in our dressing room for the near future."
Cross Parenteau off your trade deadline rental list, and move him over to the column of players who got a shot with the Isles and are part of next year's program. Fellow 9th-round pick and linemate Matt Moulson is another in that column. Isles leading goal scorer and Calder candidate Michael Grabner is one more. Moulson was extended last month on a three-year deal; surely Grabner, an RFA, isn't going anywhere either.
Knowing that both Moulson and Parenteau have helped young John Tavares -- and not just vice versa -- the hope here is that these two remain part of a slowly building reservoir of top-nine depth on this team. If the Islanders acquire or develop better scorers, great; but depth is needed and depth should be retained. Neither PAP nor Moulson are one-dimensional players, so they'll fill a role even if their roles evolve.
So now, marvel at another guy who received his first real NHL shot in his mid 20s and nailed it like a seasoned pro. (Whether he can get into any clubs in the city is, of course, still entirely up to the astute discretion of S*an Av*ry.)