Welcome to the Friday edtion of the LBC’s exclusive All-Time Panthers Roster Countdown. For an explanation as to how the list was built, click here.
Yesterday, we looked at two Former Panthers, defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh (88 games, 17 goals, 38 assists), and left winger Rostislav Olesz (349 games, 57 goals, 75 assists). Today, we check out a right winger from Minnesota and another from Massachusetts.
To go on with the show, follow the link below.
46. Mark Parrish
Parrish was a 5’11” right winger from Bloomington, Minnesota. He played collegiate hockey with the St. Cloud State Huskies for two seasons (74 games, 42 goals, 28 assists). After his freshman season, he was chosen in the third round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, with the 79th overall pick.
Parrish spent the 1997-98 season in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds (54 games, 54 goals, 38 assists). He made his professional debut late in the season, scoring a goal in one game with the AHL New Haven Beast.
In 1998-99, Parrish opened the season by making the Panthers NHL roster out of training camp. In his first ever Florida appearance, he scored twice in a 4-1 season opening victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 9. On October 30, Parrish lit the lamp four times in a 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He had eight multipoint games on the season in total. He scored 24 times on 129 shots, ranking sixth in the NHL with an 18.6 shooting percentage and second on the Panthers in goals scored. he also made 13 assists, a minus-6 rating and 25 PIM in 13:59 ATOI.
1999-00 would see Parrish again equal eight multipoint efforts, including a two goal, one assist effort in a 5-1 win over the Boston Bruins on February 12. He played 14:04 per game in 81 games. He ranked third on the Panthers with 26 goals on 152 shots, assisting on 18 others. He spent 39 minutes in the penalty box and finished the season with a plus-1 rating as the Panthers qualified for the postseason. He collected one assist in four playoff contests, all losses in a sweep by the New Jersey Devils. After the season, he was traded to the New York Islanders with Oleg Kvasha for Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen.
Parrish spent five seasons with the Islanders (345 games, 118 goals, 96 assists, minus-34 rating, 122 PIM) before playing with the Los Angeles Kings (19 games, five goals, three assists, minus-9 rating, four PIM), the Minnesota Wild (142 games, 35 goals, 34 assists, plus-11 rating, 34 PIM), the Dallas Stars (44 games, eight goals, five assists, minus-3 rating, 18 PIM), the Tampa Bay Lightning (16 games, two assists, minus-5, four PIM), and the Buffalo Sabres (two games, minus-2 rating). He spent the 2011-12 campaign with the AHL Binghamton Senators (51 games, 15 goals, 15 assists).
All-Time Statline: Two seasons, 154 games, 50 goals, 31 assists, 81 points, minus-5 rating, 64 PIM, 9.6 APS.
45. Tom Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was a 6′ right winger from Billerica, Massachusetts when he was selected in the first round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders, 17th overall. Before turning professional, he played two seasons with Providence College (63 games, 27 goals, 29 assists).
1988-89 would see Fitzgerald make his NHL debut with the Islanders, and he would ultimately spend a total of five seasons with the club (205 games, 25 goals, 44 assists, minus-16 rating, 100 PIM). He added three goals and five assists in 22 postseason contests. Left unprotected, he was picked up by the Panthers in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft.
Fitzgerald took the ice with the original version of the Panthers. He had four multipoint games through their first season, Including two goals in a 3-3 tie with the Montreal Canadiens on December 15. He scored 18 goals on 144 shots in 83 games, tacking on 14 assists and a minus-3 rating with 54 PIM. The inaugural version of the Panthers were the most successful expansion club in League history, with a 33-34-17 record.
In 1994-95, Fitzgerald was one of five Panthers to appear in all 48 contests. He scored three goals on 78 shots, with a team fourth best 13 assists, a minus-3 rating and 31 PIM. On March 22, he scored a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over Montreal.
1995-96 would see Fitzgerald post five multipoint games with Florida, including two two-goal efforts, in a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on October 13, and again in a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers on April 8. He was one of three Panthers to appear in all 82 games. He scored 13 goals on 141 shots with 21 assists, a minus-3 rating and 75 PIM. He added four goals and four assists in 22 playoff games, including two goals in a 5-1 game one victory in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Fitzgerald scored 10 goals on 135 shots in 1996-97, appearing in 71 games. He added 14 assists, a plus-7 rating, and 64 penalty minutes. In 1997-98, he appeared in 69 Florida games, scoring 10 goals on 105 shots with five assists. He finished with a minus-4 rating and 57 PIM. The Panthers traded him to the Colorado Avalanche on March 24 for the rights to negotiate with Mark Parrish and a third round draft pick (Lance Ward). He played 11 games with the Avs to close out the season (two goals, one assist, even rating, 22 PIM).
Fitzgerald later appeared with the Nashville Predators (307 games, 42 goals, 46 assists, minus-45 rating, 218 PIM), the Chicago Blackhawks (15 games, one goal, three assists, minus-3 rating, six PIM), the Toronto Maple Leafs (135 games, 11 goals, 23 assists, plus-8 rating, 109 PIM), and the Boston Bruins (71 games, four goals, six assists, minus-10 rating, 40 PIM). He is currently an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
All-Time Statline: 353 games, 54 goals, 67 assists, 121 points, minus-6 rating, 281 PIM, 9.6 APS.
Thank you for reading today’s entry in the Panthers canon. Tune in on Monday as we review an original Panther, a center from Quebec, and a current goaltender from Iowa.