Just last season, Zach Parise was the Wild's leading goal scorer and a fixture on the team's power play.
This year, Parise's production has dipped, his minutes have declined, and he was a healthy scratch for the first time in his Wild career.
But in his return from a stint on the NHL's COVID list, the 36-year-old veteran winger is working to earn more opportunity with the Wild.
"It has been frustrating," Parise said. "It's been pretty unique where my role has definitely changed here, not being on the power play and not playing as much. It's a bit of an adjustment. That's definitely been challenging.
"At that point, you just try to make the most of what you're getting and when you are called upon to go out there, try to make an impact in any way that you can."
Parise was back in the Wild's lineup Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center when the team wrapped up its regular season series with the Avalanche after he sat out the previous seven games.
On March 24, Parise entered the NHL's COVID protocols and was removed last Saturday, getting back on the ice over the weekend while the team was on the road.
"I'm not convinced that I had it, to be honest," Parise said. "I felt nothing the whole time that I was out."