New Jersey moves Zach Parise to Center

[leafkillz]

(NHL.com) - Now that Jacob Josefson (broken collarbone) has joined fellow center Travis Zajac (torn Achilles tendon) on the long-term injury list, Devils head coach Peter DeBoer has decided to move star winger Zach Parise to the middle.

Parise practiced between left wing Ilya Kovalchuk and right wing Nick Palmieri on Monday afternoon in Los Angeles. DeBoer plans on using the trio together against the Kings on Tuesday night.

Parise was the choice to move in from the wing because he has played center during his college days. Will it work? That's hard to say. Parise certainly has the talent to play in the middle, but he'll have to find a comfort level there.

In Chicago, Patrick Kane seems to be making a successful transition from wing to center. In that case, however, Kane is working alongside two-way star Marian Hossa, whose ability to excel in all three zones definitely helps matters.