Colorado Avalanche forward Zach Parise has confirmed that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season.

Colorado Avalanche forward Zach Parise has confirmed that he will retire as a player at the end of the current season, as reported by Corey Masisak of the Denver Post on Wednesday.

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

“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.”

Reflecting on his time with the Avalanche, Parise expressed gratitude, saying, “It’s been awesome to be a part of. 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.”

The Avalanche, positioned as the No. 3 seed in the Central Division, are set to face the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Throughout the 2023–24 regular season, the Avalanche have secured a 49-25-7 record, amassing 105 points with a +46 goal differential. Their final regular-season game will be held at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday.

Originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round (No. 17 overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft, Parise spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Devils and captained them to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

Parise, along with Ryan Suter, signed matching 13-year deals with the Minnesota Wild as unrestricted free agents in 2012. They spent nine seasons in Minnesota before both being bought out in the 2021 offseason.

Following his tenure in Minnesota, Parise spent two seasons with the New York Islanders, where he scored 21 goals in 2022–23. He remained unsigned at the start of the 2023–24 season before joining the Avalanche midway through.

Since making his NHL debut with the Devils in the 2005–06 season, Parise has amassed 433 goals and 888 points in 1,253 career games. Additionally, the 5’11” winger has contributed 37 goals and 80 points in 111 playoff contests.