Parenteau enjoying time with Leafs
Playing with rookies has helped veteran experience a renaissance on the ice
Maple Leafs veteran P-A Parenteau has no trouble keeping up with the two kids on his line, but he wasn’t quite quick enough to catch a thief Wednesday morning.
Parenteau’s $80,000 Audi Q7 was stolen from under his nose at the Etobicoke house he rents with his wife and two children. His wife was warming up the car and went inside for “five seconds” when Parenteau spotted someone climb into his car and speed off.
“It happened right in front of my eyes,” Parenteau said after practice. “I saw it. It’s a nice neighbourhood and everything.”
His wife “came in to grab my daughter, and we saw the car leave the driveway. It’s going to be a pain in the a-- for the next few days,” he added, shaking his head.
Parenteau called police and the insurance company. For one day, at least, he was down to one car, a BMW X6.
Parenteau could have begged off practice, but he was there on time. He’s having too much fun playing with kids William Nylander, 19, and 23-year-old Zach Hyman.
Thursday should be a better day for Parenteau.
The native of Hull, Que., who is with his sixth NHL team, is celebrating his 33rd birthday and looking forward to playing against the Anaheim Ducks, the team that drafted him in the ninth round of the 2001draft.
Parenteau, a career minor-leaguer until the New York Islanders gave him his big chance in 2010, is enjoying a renaissance with Toronto.
With 18 goals, he’s only two off his career high. And since he missed five games with an injury earlier this month, Parenteau has found sweet redemption playing on a line with the rookie sensations.
Together that line has produced nine points in two games and Parenteau is now tied with Nazem Kadri for the team lead in points with 37, while Nylander and Hyman each have four goals in 12 games.
Parenteau gives the youngsters the stabilizing influence they need after each made their NHL debuts on Feb. 29.
They are closer on the ice than they are off it. At practice, Parenteau’s locker is several down from Hyman, while Nylander sits directly across the room from Hyman.
On the road, Parenteau has his own room. Nylander rooms with defenceman Rinat Valiev and Hyman rooms with Nikita Soshnikov.
Yet, there they were the last game on the bench together having a good laugh at the expense of Parenteau, who fell at the blue line and missed a glorious chance at a breakaway.
Parenteau was a good sport about it, retweeting a photo of the misadventure on Tuesday.
One could expect Nylander and Hyman to have instant chemistry because they played on the same line with the Marlies.
Even Parenteau’s success with the kids shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.
After all, he clicked with another young superstar in John Tavares while he was with the Islanders and has played with Matt Duchene and Nathan McKinnon in Colorado.
“I’ve been really lucky,” Parenteau said.
Parenteau played two seasons in Colorado and one in Montreal before signing a one-year, $1.5 million (U.S.) contract with the Maple Leafs prior to the season.
Parenteau wanted to play for Mike Babcock, and the Leaf coach has put him in the best position to succeed.
“That’s the idea,” Babcock said of Parenteau, “you’ve got one guy looking after two guys and talking to them and supporting them and that’s why we went like that.”
Parenteau likes the chemistry of the line.
“I think it’s made me a better player playing with these two kids,” Parenteau said.
Parenteau becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, but he’s feeling like he has a few more years left in him.
“Obviously, there is a difference in age (with Nylander and Hyman), but I’m young at heart,” Parenteau said. “If I stay young at heart, I’m going to play longer, I really believe that.”