Parekh is one of the most talented prospects in the sport and has the potential to be an offensive game-changer. He might even be in a special tier offensively. Two seasons ago, despite playing in just 50 of Saginaw’s 68 games after missing three weeks due to injury from the end of February into March and another couple for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (where he scored three goals and five points in seven games as the highest-scoring defenseman on the fourth-place-finishing Canada Black), he still broke the OHL’s all-time goals record by a U17 defenseman, scoring 21 times. An OHL Cup All-Star and first-round pick into the OHL before that, Parekh then became the most talented offensive defenseman in junior hockey last year, winning the CHL’s defenseman of the year award and scoring and producing at an all-time great draft-year rate, breaking the 30-goal and 90-point mark as the leading scorer on the Memorial Cup hosts by more than 20 points. He was extremely impactful against the three best teams in the CHL at the Memorial Cup, playing big minutes to help the Spirit to the championship. Though he missed some playoff games due to an upper-body injury, he was still a difference-maker for Saginaw in the postseason. He got off to a slow start this season after a very short summer due to the Memorial Cup, the draft, development camp, rookie tournament and the World Junior Summer Showcase, but he has excited again recently and is back on track for another 30-goal and 90-plus point season.
He plays an aggressive and natural offensive style that looks to attack off the line into the slot or even the front of the net or below the goal line. He’ll also regularly involve himself in the rush, much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to look to challenge defenders and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush. He’s extremely confident on offense and opening up his feet (where necessary) around the zone without going to his heel-to-heel by default. He’s got great hands and a casual-looking skating posture (he’s got excellent feet crossing over and falling onto his heels, but does lack pull-away speed in straight lines going forward), which he uses to carry pucks with a visual ease and beat the first layer of pressure to get to his spots. When the puck arrives on his stick, it just seems to stop and glue to him through his movements — a very rare quality that almost makes him look lackadaisical with the puck because it’s settled so easily into his pocket and upright stance. He likes to roam, but he’s also learning to pick his spots better and his head is constantly on a swivel to identify where he is in relation to his teammates. When he plays freely, which is almost always, you’re drawn to him whenever he touches the puck because he’s always a threat to make something happen and he sees and identifies plays early. He protects the puck extremely well with players leaning on him, escaping situations you wouldn’t expect him to and often avoiding contact with deft little pre-planned plays (though he’ll also take a hit to make a play). He’s got great footwork and edges to manipulate across the line and stop up along the boards to change directions or maintain gaps.
And I also believe he defends at a high enough level to be given free rein to go out there and be himself offensively. Though his defense has been a common criticism among scouts at times, I’d argue he’s got a great stick (which is long and which he hides really well until an opportunity to be disruptive presents itself) and reads the play a high, high level in anticipation. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him on the penalty kill, and even though he definitely doesn’t play a physical style and can get exposed for not being hard enough in engagements, I think he’s made important progress in his own zone and he’s also become a very chippy/mouthy/pest-like player (though his lack of discipline at times can get him in trouble). There are times when his posture will look disengaged and upright, and you’d like him to really get low and battle, but he’s playing to win pucks with his stick and does so quite well (he’s never going to be a staunch defender). Add in that he’s a very good communicator (he’s constantly talking on the ice), has passes that are almost always tape-to-tape and perfectly flat, an ability to draw penalties escaping pressure as well as just about anyone in the draft class (he’s never in trouble) and a want to have the puck and make a difference, and there’s a very high-end package. If he can defend at a reasonable level in the NHL (which I believe he’ll be able to) he’s got star power.