Zach Parise, forward for the Colorado Avalanche, has announced that he will retire from playing professional hockey at the conclusion of the current season, as reported by Corey Masisak of the Denver Post on Wednesday.

At 39 years old, Parise has contributed four goals and nine points in 29 games since joining the Avalanche in January on a one-year contract worth $825,000. His final NHL regular season game will be against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

“Yeah, I’ve decided,” Parise told Masisak. “I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. I was content coming back that this would be the last one.

“It’s been awesome to be a part of,” Parise added. “The experience itself. Playing with these guys and even just practicing with them, it makes you a better player — even at my age. It’s gone even better than I thought it would.”

As the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs approach, the Colorado Avalanche are positioned as the No. 3 seed in the Central Division, preparing to face the resurgent Winnipeg Jets in the first round.

Throughout the first 81 games of the 2023–24 regular season, the Avalanche have demonstrated their prowess with an impressive record of 49-25-7, accumulating 105 points and boasting a notable +46 goal differential. Their final regular-season matchup, game No. 82, will take place at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday night.

Zach Parise’s journey in professional hockey traces back to the New Jersey Devils, who selected him in the first round (No. 17 overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft. Spending seven seasons in New Jersey, Parise notably captained the Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

Following his tenure with the Devils, Parise, along with fellow unrestricted free agent Ryan Suter, inked matching 13-year deals with the Minnesota Wild in 2012. Together, they played nine seasons in Minnesota before both being bought out in the 2021 offseason.

After departing Minnesota, Parise joined the New York Islanders for two seasons, where he notched 21 goals during the 2022–23 campaign. Beginning the 2023–24 season unsigned, Parise later joined the Colorado Avalanche midway through the season.

Throughout his illustrious NHL career, which began with the Devils in the 2005–06 season, Parise has amassed an impressive 433 goals and 888 points across 1,253 career games. Additionally, the 5’11” winger has contributed 37 goals and 80 points in 111 playoff contests.