RD Zayne Parekh - Saginaw Spirit, OHL (2024, 9th, CGY)

ESH

Registered User
Jun 19, 2011
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I don't agree. I think his floor is lower. 2nd pairing Dmen usually have decent defense, good size, physicality, in some measure. He does not have any of those three traits. There are also mixed reviews on his skating.
There shouldn’t be mixed reviews on his skating. He’s not exactly Quinn Hughes, but he’s very mobile and smooth in every direction. Not the fastest but nowhere near slow.
 

57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
Sep 5, 2012
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There shouldn’t be mixed reviews on his skating. He’s not exactly Quinn Hughes, but he’s very mobile and smooth in every direction. Not the fastest but nowhere near slow.
Yet there are. Even his skating teacher talked about how ugly his skating was when he first came to her, and admits that he still has work to do.

I think it's ok, as he is an excellent athlete, and seems to be driven to succeed. His skating will get"fixed". As you pointed out, he already has good edges and mobility... with some work he will be an above average skater.

I also think his physicality will be good enough, even though it looks unimpressive even in junior. I do wonder whether he will ever have much of a defensive game, but if he realizes his offensive game in the NHL then you live with it... most offensively gifted dmen don't have great defensive games. Most of their energy is poured into offense.
 

HarrySPlinkett

Not a film critic
Feb 4, 2010
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Calgary
His edge work is strong, his top end speed is nothing special and he's not known for his transitional play. I agree at worst he's a PP QB but how he refines the other areas of his game will determine a lot. There is a level of genuine excitement Flames fans should have with him but I've seen people trying to pencil him into the lineup for opening day this season and it's delusional.

Edgework is exceedingly more valuable than top end speed, especially for defensemen.

of the many Bob Hartley quotes that stick in my brain, one of them is about hockey being a game of 15 foot races - Parekh wins those 15 foot races a lot.
 

57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
Sep 5, 2012
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Edgework is exceedingly more valuable than top end speed, especially for defensemen.

of the many Bob Hartley quotes that stick in my brain, one of them is about hockey being a game of 15 foot races - Parekh wins those 15 foot races a lot.
Everything is important, when it comes to skating. If your skating is fast you can get back to pucks quicker on D zone retrievals, giving you extra time to make a first move or pass, and avoid forechecks. Being faster allows you to skate away from opponents when you have the puck, or evade them when jumping up into the play. Skating fast is also invaluable when getting back into a play if you are caught out of position(which will happen a lot to Parekh unless he changes his game), or covering for a D partner who is beaten.

15' bursts are important, edges and pivots are important, and speed over longer distances are important. While you don't need the long stretches of speed often, those are the ones that are often critical in either getting back on a breakaway against, or creating one. I would argue that offensive Dmen have more opportunity to use longer runs of speed, because they are often starting from deep in their own end, and ending in the O zone. That can be up to 200', maybe more with some changes in direction.
 
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Haatley

haatley
Jun 9, 2011
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Yet there are. Even his skating teacher talked about how ugly his skating was when he first came to her, and admits that he still has work to do.

I think it's ok, as he is an excellent athlete, and seems to be driven to succeed. His skating will get"fixed". As you pointed out, he already has good edges and mobility... with some work he will be an above average skater.

I also think his physicality will be good enough, even though it looks unimpressive even in junior. I do wonder whether he will ever have much of a defensive game, but if he realizes his offensive game in the NHL then you live with it... most offensively gifted dmen don't have great defensive games. Most of their energy is poured into offense.
Show me the mixed reviews. All I have seen is his skating being described as "incredible" and "fantastic."

I have also seen him live and was head and shoulders better than everyone on the ice in a game between Saginaw and Owen Sound.

I will get to see him a couple of more times this year as well. Have you seen him live?
 

DJJones

Registered User
Nov 18, 2014
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Calgary
Ya I don't see how someone can watch him skate and be doubtful of anything.

If he's getting mixed reviews there's like ten guys in the NHL with good skating haha
 
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ESH

Registered User
Jun 19, 2011
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Yet there are. Even his skating teacher talked about how ugly his skating was when he first came to her, and admits that he still has work to do.

I think it's ok, as he is an excellent athlete, and seems to be driven to succeed. His skating will get"fixed". As you pointed out, he already has good edges and mobility... with some work he will be an above average skater.

I also think his physicality will be good enough, even though it looks unimpressive even in junior. I do wonder whether he will ever have much of a defensive game, but if he realizes his offensive game in the NHL then you live with it... most offensively gifted dmen don't have great defensive games. Most of their energy is poured into offense.
I think you’re just kinda wrong to be honest. He’s pretty clearly already an above average skater. I’m sure he could improve on his leg strength and burst, but he’s smooth as butter on his edges. Elite prospects in their draft guide called him #1 in the entire draft in terms of 4-way mobility.
 
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QJL

Registered User
Jan 2, 2014
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I can’t fathom how anyone who has watched Zayne Parekh would question his skating ability. He is an outstanding skater and can change games with that attribute alone.
 

Oddbob

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Jan 21, 2016
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He is going to finish 13th overall in NHL scoring this season if you go by the main boards thread.
 

Mitts

Registered User
Jun 29, 2011
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Calgary

I was praying Ottawa passed on this guy, he has bust written all over him. The game won’t translate.
Context in which this takes place is important. In Zayne's own words regarding a spinorama pass on his first shift. "No I was just trying to have fun show my skill, you know I was trying to make plays, I'm not playing the game properly out there I'm trying to show my skill and have some fun." So read into it what you will, but understand this wasn't Zayne showcasing how he plays the game. He has flaws and is well aware of them if you watch a sample size of interviews you will see him indicate this.

Full question and answer at 1:07

 

Peasy

Registered User
May 25, 2012
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Star Shoppin

Calgary Flames' top draft pick, Zayne Parekh, has found himself in a precarious situation after a controversial incident that has sparked widespread discussion among fans and analysts alike. During a recent matchup, Parekh was ejected for a late hit, but things took a turn for the worse as reports emerged of him allegedly spearing a fan with his stick while exiting the ice.

Suspended last season for rumoured spitting on another player...

This guy kinda seems like a clown.
 
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DJJones

Registered User
Nov 18, 2014
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Calgary



Suspended last season for rumoured spitting on another player...

This guy kinda seems like a clown.

Honestly this gets me more pumped for him haha

The hit was nothing, the fan deserved it
 

Peasy

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May 25, 2012
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HighLifeMan

#SnowyStrong
Feb 26, 2009
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People questioned me last season after brining up the spitting incident. Now we have yet another interaction where his character comes into question.

Where there is smoke, there is fire, folks.

This so called "interaction" appears to be nothing more than a twitter rumor, though. The internet is a bad place - let's not smear this kid for something he didn't do.
 
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Tkachuk Norris

Registered User
Jun 22, 2012
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People questioned me last season after brining up the spitting incident. Now we have yet another interaction where his character comes into question.

Where there is smoke, there is fire, folks.

A) you have no idea what the f*** you are talking about. The people that actually did the investigation found nothing.

B) the rumour was that some guy called him a racial slur anyway. Which is a bit of a mitigating factor if you ask me.
 

LeProspector

AINEC
Feb 14, 2017
5,401
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A) you have no idea what the f*** you are talking about. The people that actually did the investigation found nothing.

B) the rumour was that some guy called him a racial slur anyway. Which is a bit of a mitigating factor if you ask me.
This so called "interaction" appears to be nothing more than a twitter rumor, though. The internet is a bad place - let's not smear this kid for something he didn't do.
That doesn’t mean we can’t discuss it though, I agree it wouldn’t be fair to the kid but at the same time he does have a track record of acting out (warranted or not) so it’s something that I’m personally concerned about.
 

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