{"id":18216,"date":"2017-10-24T19:00:08","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T23:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=18216"},"modified":"2017-10-25T14:26:57","modified_gmt":"2017-10-25T18:26:57","slug":"zach-parise-out-8-10-weeks-after-back-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/10\/24\/zach-parise-out-8-10-weeks-after-back-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Wild Winger Zach Parise Sidelined After Back Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Wild<\/a> announced that winger\u00a0Zach Parise<\/a> <\/strong>has undergone back surgery and will miss eight to ten weeks of the NHL season. The 33-year-old Parise is in the sixth season of a 13-year, $98 million contract. He is currently one of the top twenty highest paid players in the NHL. He served as the captain of the 2014 US Olympic team in Sochi.<\/p>\n

Zach Parise<\/a>\u00a0Out 8-10 Weeks<\/h2>\n

The Wild winger missed the start of the Wild season due to pain from a herniated disk in his lower back. This injury caused pain and weakness in his lower legs and back. His recent surgery is to relieve that pain and weakness. The team announced<\/a>\u00a0the surgery was performed at the TRIA Orthopedic Center by Dr. Kevin Mullaney. The Wild hope their star winger can recover sooner\u00a0rather than later.<\/p>\n

Parise has a history of back injuries. This is the second injury in less than 2 years. His 2016 injury forced Parise to miss the playoffs. His return last season showed productivity and a return to form. He scored 19 goals in 69 games. Parise was in pain for parts of last year and received conventional therapy throughout the 2017 season. The current injury occurred 2 weeks before training camp. He participated sporadically in practice sessions during camp, while not opting for surgery at that time.<\/p>\n

A Leader On and Off the Ice<\/h2>\n

Parise has been a stalwart for the Wild and played 830 NHL games. He provides leadership to the Wild on and off the ice. His leadership does not go unnoticed by his teammates.\u00a0Jason Zucker<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>described\u00a0<\/strong>Parise\u2019s leadership to the Star Tribune. \u201cHe\u2019s a great player. The stuff he brings on the ice goes without saying. He\u2019s also a great leader.” Zucker continued:<\/p>\n

You never want to have to go through any of this as it is. And having to it at this point of the season is obviously tough. He\u2019ll be back and he\u2019ll be back stronger than ever.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Minnesota is plagued with injuries. Charlie Coyle<\/a><\/strong> is out until December with a broken leg. Additionally,\u00a0Nino Niederreiter<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0suffered a sprained ankle. His return is still unknown. The Wild hope Parise can return to the lineup by Christmas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>