RW Parrish signs tryout deal with AHL Bridgeport

Oct 22, 2008 - 10:17 PM BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Mark Parrish has taken the first step toward returning to the National Hockey League.

A former 30-goal scorer in the NHL, Parrish on Wednesday signed a tryout contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.

Selected by Colorado in the third round of the 1996 draft, Parrish was bought out of the final three years of his contract with Minnesota over the summer after recording 16 goals and 14 assists in 66 games with the Wild last season. The 31-year-old right wing immediately became a free agent but went unsigned during the offseason.

A native of Bloomington, Minnesota, Parrish has registered 208 goals and 164 assists in 660 career games with the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings and Wild. An All-Star in 2002 and an Olympian in 2006, he enjoyed his best season with the Islanders in 2001-02, when he notched career highs of 30 goals and 60 points in 78 contests.