With one of the better names in hockey Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau cashed in on a second consecutive breakout season last year by signing a nice $16-million deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year old Quebec native had been a career minor leaguer and trade throw away for the first seven years of his professional hockey career.

Drafted by the Ducks of Anaheim, back when they wore cartoon logos and called themselves the Mighty Ducks, Parenteau spent the entirety of his first four seasons as a minor leaguer getting traded from Anaheim to Chicago and their minor league affiliate in Portland. He made his NHL debut with the Hawks in 2007 playing in only five games that season. In October of that year Parenteau was shipped to the New York Rangers.

After two and a half more seasons with the New York affiliate in Hartford, Parenteau was called up, and registered his first NHL goal, ironically against the New York Islanders. He would finish the season with the Rangers and played well enough to receive a contract to head across town to play for the aforementioned Islanders.

Parenteau showed well enough in training camp and preseason to make the Islanders opening night roster, taking a spot on the Isles top line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. With regular playing time and growing chemistry with the Isles two best players, Parenteau matched his AHL scoring success by scoring 53 points, good for second on the team.

With growing confidence, Parenteau and the Isles started strong in the 2011-12 season. While Parenteau’s production hit a career high, the success of the team was not sustained as the Islanders missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Parenteau established himself as one of the premier assist men in the league. His 49 helpers were good for tenth in the league and second on the team.

With an expiring contract, one can’t really begrudge a player who toiled in AHL obscurity for taking the highest dollar amount. In a league that has shown him very little loyalty, Parenteau has an opportunity to continue his rise to NHL relevance with a talented Colorado roster that should be a Western Conference contender.