I'm not disagreeing with intangibles, #1Hakfan, I'm strictly speaking in terms of on-ice accomplishments. Charles Barkley won one and maybe two NBA MVP awards, yet he would trade all of his individual accomplishments for a ring. NHL players won't even touch the Stanley Cup unless they have won it. You think Steve Yzerman was happier scoring bunches of goals every year prior to 1997 or when he won his first cup that year?
I find it funny that you comment about "maybe" Zach having a son and him going to UND. I'm sure J.P. Parise never dreamed of a day when his kid would be wearing Sioux green over Gopher maroon and gold. You never know...
Bottom line is I'm not being critical of Zach Parise in any way, shape or form. I'm simply pointing out that his "mission statement," if you will, was that he was going to win an NCAA title at UND, yet he only gave himself two years to accomplish that goal and was gone. I'm not faulting him or belittling him for that decision. I'm happy he played at UND and I'm happy he's steering kids to North Dakota.