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

[TheNumber4]

He’s okay. Much of his production won’t translate though. And There’ll be issues in his own end.

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

He’s okay. Much of his production won’t translate though. And There’ll be issues in his own end.

Oilers fan for what it’s worth.
How do you know this, have you watched him? May you provide your reasoning?

 

[crazyfisherman]

Oilers fan for what it’s worth.
How do you know this, have you watched him? May you provide your reasoning?

The reasoning is hes a flames pick lol

 

[Garbageyuk]

He’s okay. Much of his production won’t translate though. And There’ll be issues in his own end.

That’s what they said about EK.

 

[Iggys Dome]

He’s okay. Much of his production won’t translate though. And There’ll be issues in his own end.

If Edmonton drafted him he’d be the next Paul Coffey, right?

 

[Just Linda]

One of the issues we sometimes face when forming opinions on prospects is sample bias. If I tune into a part of the season where a prospect is hurt and only watch those games, I can walk away with the impression that they are worse than they are. Similarly, you can watch a hot stretch against weak teams and think the player will be an all-star.

Right now, I have a bad opinion of this prospect built quite possibly from watching a bad sample of his game. His skating looked weird as hell, he was agile but lacked control. His decision making was very poor and not at all NHL-like. What I saw doesn't match what the consensus seems to be on this player and it doesn't match up to what his production seems to indicate he's actually like.

What would be the best game to watch to see his potential? Something where his skating looks deliberate and impactful, where he's using his decision making to the best of his ability, and where he's able to play a defensive game?

 

[HighLifeMan]

I can see how his body language away from the puck can turn some people off, but I certainly don't think he's lazy or lacks compete. He's an extremely fiery kid. Where he absolutely shines though is through his ability to manipulate defenders with his agility, edgework, and body positioning which is all incredibly unique and absolutely at an elite level. The amount of lanes that he creates for himself, and or his teammates is unheard of. You then top that off with one of the nastiest wrist/snap shots in the entire CHL and it's clear as day why he scored 54 goals as a defensemen prior to being drafted. No OHL defender has come anywhere near that total since John Slaney did 34 years ago. The closest would be Ryan Ellis whom "only" had 37 goals, and Ekblad who had 40 but in three total seasons, not two.

It doesn't shock me that some people just don't like this guy with the odd viewing or two, but with a deep dive on him and the person he is, I am incredibly excited about his future.

 

[SquidNasty]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1809636226334617856

I was praying Ottawa passed on this guy, he has bust written all over him. The game won’t translate.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

That’s what they said about EK.

Is it? Karlsson didnt really jump off the page offensively til he was an NHLer

 

[Garbageyuk]

Is it? Karlsson didnt really jump off the page offensively til he was an NHLer

Point per game in J20 while weighing about ~150 lbs doesn’t “jump off the page? He always had immense potential; the question was whether he could put on the weight needed to play in the NHL. He did, as we all know.

 

[FlyguyOX]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1809636226334617856

I was praying Ottawa passed on this guy, he has bust written all over him. The game won’t translate.

Yeah tbh not sure that shift gives me the warm fuzzies.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Yeah tbh not sure that shift gives me the warm fuzzies.

He was the best player at camp by a sizeable margin.

 

[FlyguyOX]

He was the best player at camp by a sizeable margin.

I can see him being polarizing if his compete level and skating stay similar to that clip.

 

[Haatley]

Point per game in J20 while weighing about ~150 lbs doesn’t “jump off the page? He always had immense potential; the question was whether he could put on the weight needed to play in the NHL. He did, as we all know.

He is listed at 178....

 

[Garbageyuk]

He is listed at 178....

“Senators director player of personnel Pierre Dorion recalled that Karlsson was not high on the team's prospect list at the winter meetings, but all that changed at an under-18 international event in February 2008.

"At that tournament he always had the puck," Dorion said. "He was only 5-foot-10 and a little more than 150 pounds, but he had a lot of energy. He wanted the puck. He initiated. He left an impression."

A few months later, the 2008 NHL entry draft was held in Ottawa. The hockey world had just witnessed another Stanley Cup win by Detroit under Lidstrom's leadership. So the Senators decided to add their own Swedish blue-liner to the fold. They had interviewed Karlsson at the scouting combine in Toronto before the draft and few weeks later in Ottawa.”

https://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2012/03/young-karlsson-has-put-together-a-season-for-the-ages.html

 

[Bond]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1809636226334617856

I was praying Ottawa passed on this guy, he has bust written all over him. The game won’t translate.

Well we cancel each out. I was hoping the Flames would pass on Yakemchuk lol

 

[SensontheRush]

That’s what they said about EK.

No one said anything about EK. He wasn't talked about much until he made the NHL. When he was talked about, surprisingly, people would say stuff like "underrated physical game" and "likes to deliver big bodychecks".

 

[Garbageyuk]

No one said anything about EK. He wasn't talked about much until he made the NHL.

BS. He was a 15th overall pick, not a 7th rounder.

When he was talked about, surprisingly, people would say stuff like "underrated physical game" and "likes to deliver big bodychecks".

I’m sure he was really throwing around big hits, considering he was 5’10”, ~150 lbs when he was drafted.

 

[SensontheRush]

BS. He was a 15th overall pick, not a 7th rounder.

I’m sure he was really throwing around big hits, considering he was 5’10”, ~150 lbs when he was drafted.

Some people are just trying to help.

 

[Bloomberg]

High risk, high reward pick. If you are Calgary, probably worth it to take the risk.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

I don’t really see the risk. He might never be a great 5 on 5 player. But at worst he’s a second pair elite PP QB. His skating is strong, weird to me that people question it. His ability to think and move the puck is special. Hockey is a thinking game. He’s going to be a special player. He needs to get stronger, and maybe take less risks, but he doesn’t really make bad decisions defensively.

 

[Boxscore]

Point per game in J20 while weighing about ~150 lbs doesn’t “jump off the page? He always had immense potential; the question was whether he could put on the weight needed to play in the NHL. He did, as we all know.

This, 100%. Come draft day, Karlsson shot up the ranks like a rocket. He was a tiny lad, maybe a buck 60 soaking wet on draft day but he strut up to the podium with a cocky grin like, "Wait until you see what I can do." And, I think Parekh is a fantastic pick by the Flames. Screw playing it safe, and swing for the fences, the NHL is a star power league.

 

[57special]

I don’t really see the risk. He might never be a great 5 on 5 player. But at worst he’s a second pair elite PP QB. His skating is strong, weird to me that people question it. His ability to think and move the puck is special. Hockey is a thinking game. He’s going to be a special player. He needs to get stronger, and maybe take less risks, but he doesn’t really make bad decisions defensively.

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.

 

[Backlund]

I don’t really see the risk. He might never be a great 5 on 5 player. But at worst he’s a second pair elite PP QB. His skating is strong, weird to me that people question it. His ability to think and move the puck is special. Hockey is a thinking game. He’s going to be a special player. He needs to get stronger, and maybe take less risks, but he doesn’t really make bad decisions defensively.

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.

 

[thrillhous]

Is it? Karlsson didnt really jump off the page offensively til he was an NHLer

You’re correct, it was all about projection for him.