Zach Parise
This one is going to come as a surprise to some, but Zach Parise did just enough to be a Hall of Famer. He had a couple “so close” moments in his career that does hurt because he didn’t play on a team that got over the top.
Let’s first talk about 2010, which we think is the moment that gets him in the Hall of Fame. In the gold medal game at the 2010 Olympics between the U.S. and Canada, Parise scores on Roberto Luongo to tie the game with 24 second left in regulation. The goal was insane, and it came thanks to Parise staying in the right place (in front of the net) to send a Patrick Kane rebound in the net. Of course, the Sidney Crosby Golden Goal ended the American dreams, but we still remember that Parise goal.
As far as his NHL career goes, there is some disappointment. He wasn’t able to win the Stanley Cup with the Devils, despite the magical run in 2012. He was only captain for the Devils in one season, and he left in free agency right after. In Minnesota, his numbers progressively got worse, and his legacy is built into a devastating buyout that has crippled the Wild.
Parise won’t make the Hall right away, but as more and more time goes by, we will forget some of the pain and he will be revered as one of the best American players of this generation. Ironically, Parise and Taylor Hall will finish with similar careers, but Hall won’t even sniff the Hall of Fame.