The 2004-05 NHL season has not yet been canceled, but it is most definitely on life support.

After meeting with federal mediators in Washington last night, the NHL and NHLPA appear to be no closer to settling their differences. Commissioner Gary Bettman set last night as the deadline for “putting pen to paper to memorialize an agreement,” and since neither side looks ready to capitulate, the official cancellation of the season can’t be far off.

Luckily for everyone concerned, the NHL will be able to showcase some extremely talented young players whenever the lockout comes to an end. From Canada’s Sidney Crosby to Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin, a number of high-level prospects will make their NHL debuts when league play resumes.

Zach Parise, the New Jersey Devils’ first-round pick in the 2003 Entry Draft, is one such prospect. The son of former Islander Jean-Paul Parise is making a rapid adjustment to the pro game in his first season with the Devils’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats. He has scored 34 points in 47 games, and his excellent two-way play has also earned him a spot on the Planet USA roster in tonight’s AHL All-Star Game (7 p.m., ESPN2).

“It’s neat to see your name there,” said Parise, 20. “I’m going to enjoy playing alongside a lot of great players that we’ve played against.”

Last year, Parise excelled for the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux, tallying an impressive 55 points in 37 games while finishing as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Trophy (annually awarded to the nation’s best college player). A Minneapolis native, Parise was also a key offensive contributor when Team USA won the gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships.

During his time in North Dakota, Parise was like a water bug on the ice, constantly moving whether he had the puck or not. He excelled in the wide-open NCAA game, thriving in the run-and-gun system employed by the Sioux.

An extremely skilled playmaker, Parise has done an excellent job of creating scoring chances for his Albany linemates. Despite standing just 5 feet-11, his is a large presence in the offensive zone. Of course, the Devils’ focus is primarily on defense, so Parise has been making considerable adjustments in Albany this season.

“He’s very teachable,” said Albany head coach and former Devils’ head coach Robby Ftorek, “and he asks questions when he doesn’t understand something. He’s got all sorts of upside: great vision, great wheels, and good hockey sense.”

One of the main things Ftorek is teaching Parise is economy of motion.

“Coming back into the defensive zone, 90% or better of the players come back to a good position,” Ftorek said. “60% of those players leave that position, go for a little skate, then come back to where they were originally. If he can train himself to stop where he needs to be, then make the prudent positional changes when the puck arrives, he’ll be way ahead of the game.”

The young center has also spent a considerable amount of time working on his face-off skills.

“Guys are a lot stronger here than in college. There, I could muscle my way to win a draw, but here it’s a matter of strategy and technique.”

NHL veteran Pascal Rheaume is playing with the River Rats this season, and has spent a considerable amount of time on Parise’s right wing.

“He sees the ice really well for a rookie,” Rheaume said, “He’s been un believable so far – the way he plays defensively, and for his size, he plays big.”

Rheaume also noted that Parise is one of the first to arrive at practice and one of the last to leave. Indeed, Parise’s attitude is one of his most impressive attributes; getting paid to play for the first time in his life, he nonetheless understands what many in the NHL and NHLPA leadership do not.

“To me, it’s still being a kid and just going out and playing hockey,” he said. “The checks are awesome and everything, but sometimes when you’re disappointed about the way things are going, you have realize that this is an awesome job, and you just love to play even when you weren’t getting paid to do it.”

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.