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

[TLEH]

His upside is obviously high. His floor is also extremely low. I don't have him as being better than Buium or Levshunov or Dickinson. Would have to get to about 15-20 before I would be comfortable taking him.

 

[bcspragu]

He has the upside of a 100pt defenseman and the floor of a AHL offensive PP specialist. We can argue how likely he is to hit whatever outcome in between but offensively he’s one of the most productive EVER to come from the OHL in his first 2 seasons. With the way the nhl is heading I’d bet on offense every time

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

Comparison with Werenski?!? Werenski is definitely more physical and strong in the defensive game.

I compare him more to Cale Makar or Adam Fox.

4th in my latest rankings, I think he can be an extremely brilliant player in the role of an offensive defenseman in the NHL.

What he does in the OHL is very strong.

huh; both makar and fox are better than Werenski defensively

 

[Peasy]

He has the upside of a 100pt defenseman and the floor of a AHL offensive PP specialist. We can argue how likely he is to hit whatever outcome in between but offensively he’s one of the most productive EVER to come from the OHL in his first 2 seasons. With the way the nhl is heading I’d bet on offense every time

Yeah but how high of a pick would you be willing to bet on that offence.

 

[TLEH]

I mean Cale pretty much played 4th forward for Brooks and didn't really develop defensively until his 2nd year at UMASS.. Also had no WJC to point to. I think its a decent comparable to

Parekh just doesn't skate like that. His on ice personality is also different.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

huh; both makar and fox are better than Werenski defensively

Not for me.

 

[LeProspector]

I mean Cale pretty much played 4th forward for Brooks and didn't really develop defensively until his 2nd year at UMASS.. Also had no WJC to point to. I think its a decent comparable to

Parekh just doesn't skate like that. His on ice personality is also different.

Makar was on another level entirely. It wouldn‘t be fair to compare Parekh to him. Tony Deangelo or Erik Gustavsson are the best current NHL comps for Parekh in my opinion.

 

[TLEH]

Makar was on another level entirely. It wouldn‘t be fair to compare Parekh to him. Tony Deangelo or Erik Gustavsson are the best current NHL comps for Parekh in my opinion.

I was more comparing to the amount of defense Cale played at Brooks which was certainly a question mark. Obviously Cale had other aspects of his game, mainly his elite burst, that make him who he is.

 

[MS]

i didn‘t comp Merkley, I comped Murphy.

The NHL landscape is constantly evolving, but the one truth that come up over and over again is that big players are what gets you far in the playoffs. Teams love big players that are physical, that can skate and have skill. it’s what win playoff games.

Players like Parekh have always been a detriment come playoff time. he is the kind of player Internet scouts like you or I are going to love more than actual NHL teams.

I agree with this statement, but you realize how inconsistent this is with your take on Lindstrom, right?

 

[LeProspector]

I agree with this statement, but you realize how inconsistent this is with your take on Lindstrom, right?

I understand why people love Lindstrom, I’m just not a big fan. Top-5 is insane to me. Mid teens I have no problem.

 

[MS]

I understand why people love Lindstrom, I’m just not a big fan. Top-5 is insane to me. Mid teens I have no problem.

You're talking up size/skill/skating/physicality but also downplaying the player in the draft who is - by far - the biggest/best combination of those traits.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Makar was on another level entirely. It wouldn‘t be fair to compare Parekh to him. Tony Deangelo or Erik Gustavsson are the best current NHL comps for Parekh in my opinion.

Makar certainly wasn’t on another level. He was putting up points yes… in Junior A. His first season in UMass was certainly underwhelming for a 4th overall pick at the time. And there were valid concerns about his defensive ability and his size.

The truth of the matter was 2017 was regarded as a weak draft at the time. Obviously in hindsight it isn’t, but if Makar were to be drafted in 2015 or 2016, there’s absolutely no chance he goes top 15. The AJHL is significantly the weakest Junior A league compared to say the BCHL, which actually broke off from Junior A this year and has become its own classed league (still below the WHL). And even still, we see just how laggy prospects that come from the BCHL are despite being chosen high but they do have a track record of producing future NHL quality players.

 

[TLEH]

Makar certainly wasn’t on another level. He was putting up points yes… in Junior A. His first season in UMass was certainly underwhelming for a 4th overall pick at the time. And there were valid concerns about his defensive ability and his size.

The truth of the matter was 2017 was regarded as a weak draft at the time. Obviously in hindsight it isn’t, but if Makar were to be drafted in 2015 or 2016, there’s absolutely no chance he goes top 15. The AJHL is significantly the weakest Junior A league compared to say the BCHL, which actually broke off from Junior A this year and has become its own classed league (still below the WHL). And even still, we see just how laggy prospects that come from the BCHL are despite being chosen high but they do have a track record of producing future NHL quality players.

Yeah was sort of my point. Makar is what he is now. But he certainly wasn’t viewed that way in 2017. He has more tools than Parekh and the OHL is really down, but my point with Makar was he developed defensively at UMASS over 2 years.

 

[LeProspector]

You're talking up size/skill/skating/physicality but also downplaying the player in the draft who is - by far - the biggest/best combination of those traits.

Not all players are made the same. I don‘t like Lindstrom because of his terrible IQ and questionable skating. There are nuances with every player.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I mean Cale pretty much played 4th forward for Brooks and didn't really develop defensively until his 2nd year at UMASS.. Also had no WJC to point to. I think its a decent comparable to

Parekh just doesn't skate like that. His on ice personality is also different.

I'm sorry, but isn't that most of what makes Makar special?

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Parekh skates well enough that he could defend effectively with speed (which he does on the rush) and he's not tiny either, but his in-zone defensive game has a long way to go.

The first few times I saw him early in the year it didn't look like he was interested in defense, rather looking for a turnover/opportunity to go on offense. I think he's tried harder as the years progressed to play defense but he still gets caught puck watching alot off the puck & those old habits kind of creep in. Nvm defensive details.

His shot is good but I wouldn't say booming like Makar. Cale is one of the best distance shooters in the NHL.

This isn't a stylistic comparison at all as they have different strengths; but could he be a Bouchard caliber player if things go right? A 2nd pair guy who really helps you on offense but has defensive limitations that can rear their ugly head. That's kind of the level I'm thinking.

 

[rubenflamshep]

He has the upside of a 100pt defenseman and the floor of a AHL offensive PP specialist. We can argue how likely he is to hit whatever outcome in between but offensively he’s one of the most productive EVER to come from the OHL in his first 2 seasons. With the way the nhl is heading I’d bet on offense every time

Echoing this. One of the highest offensive output of any dman coming out of the OHL in the last 25 years. 99.89th percentile(!)

 

[LeProspector]

Echoing this. One of the highest offensive output of any dman coming out of the OHL in the last 25 years. 99.89th percentile(!)

View attachment 786198

Of course advanced stats are going to favour him. He‘s putting up a lot of points, on a very good team. You’re ignoring his complete neglect of the defensive side of the game and the possibility he goes to a team that doesn’t want to utilize him like Saginaw is, they play a balls to the wall offensive system. If he doesn’t get that same treatment in the NHL, what is he?

There are very real risks here.

 

[TLEH]

I'm sorry, but isn't that most of what makes Makar special?

100%. All I was saying was they both had massive defensive question marks. Makar obviously had the insane skating so it worked out. I’m not a Parekh guy, I don’t see it, but that would be what people would point to (Makar defensive development). I don’t buy it from my viewings, but it’s a decent thing to point to.

 

[bcspragu]

Of course advanced stats are going to favour him. He‘s putting up a lot of points, on a very good team. You’re ignoring his complete neglect of the defensive side of the game and the possibility he goes to a team that doesn’t want to utilize him like Saginaw is, they play a balls to the wall offensive system. If he doesn’t get that same treatment in the NHL, what is he?

There are very real risks here.

No one is ignoring that his defensive play sucks it does. But if you are a believer in his offense, the defensive warts are less relivent. What’s the old saying, the best defense is a good offense. If he is able to control play and make outlet passes out of the zone, control the puck in the o zone, and pin the other team in their own end defense becomes les relevant. Also possible to pad his offensive zone starts and power play time until an nhl d coach can work with him

 

[Kingpin794]

Of course advanced stats are going to favour him. He‘s putting up a lot of points, on a very good team. You’re ignoring his complete neglect of the defensive side of the game and the possibility he goes to a team that doesn’t want to utilize him like Saginaw is, they play a balls to the wall offensive system. If he doesn’t get that same treatment in the NHL, what is he?

There are very real risks here.

I feel like people had this same convo with Mintyukov.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Only a sport like hockey can take an impressive feat like a defenseman leading his team in scoring as a draft eligible and turn it into an actual negative. It’s amazing.

 

[Peasy]

Its almost as if there are more things that matter in a prospect than just raw point totals. Dragicevic led his team in scoring last year as a D man and went late in the 2nd round. I haven't seen anyone say Parekh point totals are a negative, rather the way he plays and his defensive game can be a negative. Cristall and Heidt were some of the highest scoring prospects last year and neither went in the first. This isnt anything new.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

It doesn't help Parekh's draft stock that we've seen pure offensive defenseman dropping in drafts as of late. Look at Hutson, Casey, etc. etc. What he is doing is very impressive, but can he play this way in the pros? And if he does, how effective can that be?

 

[FLYguy3911]

Its almost as if there are more things that matter in a prospect than just raw point totals. Dragicevic led his team in scoring last year as a D man and went late in the 2nd round. I haven't seen anyone say Parekh point totals are a negative, rather the way he plays and his defensive game can be a negative. Cristall and Heidt were some of the highest scoring prospects last year and neither went in the first. This isnt anything new.

And the league got it wrong with those players. So they should continue to view the draft process through the same narrow lense?

I mean I can kinda buy the skepticism of Dragicevic since he had the skating concerns on top of the defensive question marks but the other two were clear first rounders and only continue to show as such.

It doesn't help Parekh's draft stock that we've seen pure offensive defenseman dropping in drafts as of late. Look at Hutson, Casey, etc. etc. What he is doing is very impressive, but can he play this way in the pros? And if he does, how effective can that be?

And would you agree the league got it wrong with those players or should they double down and continue to fade them?

The sport is as free flowing and open as it’s ever been. There’s no reason his game can’t translate. And even if it doesn’t people act like these guys are robots and are incapable of making adjustments. History suggests otherwise.

Everyone wants a Makar but no one wants to take the “risk” to find that kind of guy.

This debate reminds me of the Jiricek >> Hughes AINEC discussions from this time last year. How are those looking now?