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

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Here's a list of 19th overall picks from 2020 back to 2003. One could have a convincing argument that DeAngelo is weaker than the average 19th pick. Really not even in the same ballpark as 9th.

Braden Schneider - CAN
Lassi Thompson - FIN
Jay O'Brien - USA
Josh Norris - USA
Kieffer Bellows - USA
Yevgeni Svechnikov - RUS
Anthony DeAngelo - USA
Kerby Rychel - USA
Andrei Vasilevsky - RUS
Oscar Klefbom - SWE
Nick Bjugstad - USA
Kris Kreider - USA
Luca Sbisa - SWZ
Logan MacMillan - CAN
Mark Mitera - USA
Jacob Kindl - CZE
Laurie Korpikoski - FIN
Ryan Getzlaf - CAN

What is the convincing argument?

3 Didn't Reach the NHL: Mitera, MacMillan, O'Brien
4 Barely Reached the NHL (Less than 200 Games): Rychel, Bellows, Thompson, Svechnikov

Those are 7 no doubters that are probably the 7 worst. I'd hope you wouldn't argue that.

Of the other 11, DeAngelo has the fourth highest points total of that group (and he's a defenseman, mind you). Obviously someone like Vasilevskiy isn't going to score points. Of course I'm not suggesting he's ahead of him because he had more points, but I would say objectively he's on the edge of the top 5 or just outside of it. Saying he's weaker than the average 19th OA (which would amount to 10th) is just not an argument I understand where it's coming from.

 

[Slurpeelover27]

Not sure why anyone is even arguing about this whole 9OA thing? Who cares? I am only concerned with how good he can possibly become. To me he has incredibly high upside and could be a game changer. All the worry about the defensive play I am pretty sure is overblown. It's pretty obvious he has the kind of high end skills that should translate to the NHL. Is there any worry that he can't get physically stronger?

Lane Hutson should be the floor. Lane is only 5'9" 162 lbs. Zayne appears to have better skills from what I can see and is 6' 185 lbs and is 2 years younger. Lane was picked 62nd overall in 2022. Who cares where anyone is picked? What matters is how they are looking now and how much better they can become.

 

[Finster8]

Parekh played as I have said before like I’m here but at 75% mentally and physically to start the season. His offensive talent will speak for itself as he develops and gets stronger.
Comparing him is hard not to many guys get back to back 30 goal seasons with the chance of hitting 100Pts.
Even if he puts in his 9 NHL games next year then management will have a big decision to make stay if it helps him get better or playD+2 in the O. That’s why they have GMs.

 

[Muffin]

Not sure why anyone is even arguing about this whole 9OA thing? Who cares? I am only concerned with how good he can possibly become. To me he has incredibly high upside and could be a game changer. All the worry about the defensive play I am pretty sure is overblown. It's pretty obvious he has the kind of high end skills that should translate to the NHL. Is there any worry that he can't get physically stronger?

Lane Hutson should be the floor. Lane is only 5'9" 162 lbs. Zayne appears to have better skills from what I can see and is 6' 185 lbs and is 2 years younger. Lane was picked 62nd overall in 2022. Who cares where anyone is picked? What matters is how they are looking now and how much better they can become.

Lane Hutson is the floor? The floor is he never makes the NHL. Far from a sure thing. I don't think you understand what a "floor" is.

 

[Slurpeelover27]

Lane Hutson is the floor? The floor is he never makes the NHL. Far from a sure thing. I don't think you understand what a "floor" is.

Yes, to me Lane Hutson is his floor because his talent is undeniable. Of course, he could have some major injuries or have a major mental breakdown before ever getting a chance, but so can anyone. Why even talk about having a "floor" if that is your definition of what a "floor" is for these high end prospects. By your definition Connor Mcdavid would have had the same "floor" of not ever making the NHL before he actually made it. Quit arguing semantics when most people understand what a "floor" is. All of these discussions are based on people's opinions. They are obviously not based on "facts".

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

If his floor is Lane Hutson, he would've gone first in the draft last year (or at least second uncontested). Lane Hutson this year wasn't much different than Lane Hutson in late June.

 

[47]

Does everyone in this thread hate Parekh? I see more criticism than positivity for a CHL dman who is trending towards a 100 point season and a 2nd 30G campaign.

Kid is legit.

 

[Kingpin794]

Does everyone in this thread hate Parekh? I see more criticism than positivity for a CHL dman who is trending towards a 100 point season and a 2nd 30G campaign.

Kid is legit.

They don’t hate him. It’s just natural for guys that get a ton of hype to have an equal amount of push back after a while. The reverse is true for guys that didn’t have a ton of push and getting hype after the fact. Online scouts like to be contrarians if given the chance.

 

[kanersen]

To me, Parekh stands the best chance to be the 'Erik Karlsson' or 'Cale Makar' of the next crop of defenseman in/entering the NHL. Will he be that? Who knows. But he's got a better shot at being that guy then everyone else that's been drafted in recent memory, or will drafted in the new few years outside of perhaps Landon DuPont.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Does everyone in this thread hate Parekh? I see more criticism than positivity for a CHL dman who is trending towards a 100 point season and a 2nd 30G campaign.

Kid is legit.

People get really insecure about smaller offensive defensemen on this site for some reason. I think a lot of hockey fans are former high school bullies.

 

[Kielbasa]

People get really insecure about smaller offensive defensemen on this site for some reason. I think a lot of hockey fans are former high school bullies.

Combined that with Parekh being an outspoken and cocky person of colour in a traditionally white conservative sport, and its a recipe for toxicity.

Dude's having a whale of a season. On pace for ~105 points despite losing five games to injury while also improving his defensive play. It's a dream D+1 year (minus not making the WJC for some reasons mentioned above)

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Combined that with Parekh being an outspoken and cocky person of colour in a traditionally white conservative sport, and its a recipe for toxicity.

This is too far.

Most people would’ve had no idea his race or ethnicity and even if they did I don’t think anyone cares.

 

[Kielbasa]

This is too far.

Most people would’ve had no idea his race or ethnicity and even if they did I don’t think anyone cares.

Is it? I remember how often Subban was seen as controversial for takes that other players wouldn't have gotten heat for.

Even if it's not explicit in people's responses, he's undoubtedly the subject of many unconscious biases.

Just to be clear, this comment is not directed specifically at you.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Is it? I remember how often Subban was seen as controversial for takes that other players wouldn't have gotten heat for.

Even if it's not explicit in people's responses, he's undoubtedly the subject of many unconscious biases.

Just to be clear, this comment is not directed specifically at you.

It's not worth engaging in these conversations here because some people don't know how to discuss nuanced topics thoughtfully. You will eventually end up accused of being racist towards white people, even if you yourself are white. Trust me, not worth it.

 

[Kielbasa]

It's not worth engaging in these conversations here because some people don't know how to discuss nuanced topics thoughtfully. You will eventually end up accused of being racist towards white people, even if you yourself are white. Trust me, not worth it.

lol, you underestimate how bored at work I am today.

On a serious note, this HFBoards noob appreciates the advice.

Back to Parekh though, I personally really like his cockiness. It doesn't seem to be getting in the way of him working on the deficiencies in his game and the Flames could use some bigger personalities outside of Andersson.

 

[Yepthatsme]

lol, you underestimate how bored at work I am today.

On a serious note, this HFBoards noob appreciates the advice.

Back to Parekh though, I personally really like his cockiness. It doesn't seem to be getting in the way of him working on the deficiencies in his game and the Flames could use some bigger personalities outside of Andersson.

This is what I don’t understand about this topic. He is cocky and a hot head on the ice, but generally acknowledges his flaws and has put in obvious work to fix him. Never heard about any issues with teammates at all. Some how this has been compared 1 to 1 against Deangelo who has multiple reports about locker room disputes, including a physical fight with a teammate, and his general refusal to work on his flaws. It’s been a weird comparison, especially considering Deangelo would’ve been such a better player if he didn’t have those flaws.

 

[Juxtaposer]

lol, you underestimate how bored at work I am today.

On a serious note, this HFBoards noob appreciates the advice.

Back to Parekh though, I personally really like his cockiness. It doesn't seem to be getting in the way of him working on the deficiencies in his game and the Flames could use some bigger personalities outside of Andersson.

I feel like a ton of young players have that "cockiness" these days. Like Parekh, there are a lot of guys (Dickinson, Sennecke, Buium, Gauthier, Michkov, Leonard, etc.) that seem slightly dickish/full of themselves on the ice and in interviews, even if I'm sure they're perfectly fine people.

It's really only a problem if it becomes a locker room issue with his teammates. No indication of that with any of these kids. Might just be a gen Z thing?

 

[Kielbasa]

I feel like a ton of young players have that "cockiness" these days. Like Parekh, there are a lot of guys (Dickinson, Sennecke, Buium, Gauthier, Michkov, Leonard, etc.) that seem slightly dickish/full of themselves on the ice and in interviews, even if I'm sure they're perfectly fine people.

It's really only a problem if it becomes a locker room issue with his teammates. No indication of that with any of these kids. Might just be a gen Z thing?

But why is Parekh being singled out for his attitude? Could it be that he's different from the others somehow? Truely a mystery that will stump scholars for decades to come.