Avalanche Release Forward Parker

According to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, the Colorado Avalanche have terminated the contract of forward and enforcer Scott Parker for insubordination. The Avalanche demoted Parker on October 17 to their AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, but he was unable to play due to a concussion he sustained during a fight in the preseason. Parker still refused assignment to the Monsters outright. The Avalanche had signed Parker to a one-year, two-way contract over the summer worth $500,000. By terminating his contract, Parker is now an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any team without compensation to the Avalanche. Parker has played in eight NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, racking up 699 penalty minutes in 308 games. Parker's insubordination with the Avalanche likely ended his career in the NHL, as most general managers will not want a player on their team refusing demotion to the minors. If Parker has any hopes of landing with another NHL team, he's going to have to change his attitude about playing in the minors.