The OHL’s Defenseman of the Year is an offensive dynamo with the potential to be a unique scoring threat.
Pre-Draft Rankings:
No. 7 by Corey Pronman (The Athletic)
No. 9 by Sportsnet
No. 5 by EliteProspects
No. 9 by Bob McKenzie (TSN)
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Parekh is an absolute wizard with the puck, he has a sky high ceiling due to the fact that he has such a natural ability to score from the back end. Out of every defender in the draft, Parekh’s offensive instincts stand out; he scored an eye-popping 96 points in 66 games, an absurd number for a defenseman, let alone one who played most of the year as a 17-year old. What really stands out are his 33 goals, far and away the most in the Ontario Hockey League, and an indication that he isn’t just a player who can create for others, he can also create for himself.
There simply just aren’t a lot of players who can do things like that while looking so relaxed and laid back. He is calm, cool, and calculated as he breaks down defenders at speed. He is a built in zone exit and subsequent entry every time he gets up to speed, and there are few flaws in the way that he plays with the puck. Parekh also has the ability to play at the top of a power play and orchestrate plays with the man advantage. His agility makes him very slippery in one-on-one situations, and it allows him to hold onto the puck through pressure. When he gets to walking the line and surveying the play in front of him, he starts to become even more of a handful because of the unpredictability of his skillset. There isn’t one specific play or angle he is looking for, he has a varied enough arsenal to keep opponents guessing.
He has the goal-scoring instincts of a forward, and with Saginaw he was often allowed to roam in the offensive zone a bit more than your average defenseman. That let Parekh showcase his full toolkit of offensive creativity. Not only did he have 33 goals, he also dished out 63 assists, which was second in the OHL only behind 2023 3rd round pick Hunter Brzustewicz.
An underrated asset to his game is his ability to log minutes. He routinely played 25-plus minutes a night in Saginaw, and was still largely able to keep up his energy and burst even while being leaned on heavily.
He has the potential to be a truly special offensive talent, and with a 6 foot, 181 pound frame, he should be able to ride checks and become a force that is hard to contain.
What’s not to like?
As is the case with many elite offensive defensemen, Parekh’s defensive game is lacking. He struggles in one-on-one defensive scenarios, and his gap control is still sloppy and needs development. He isn’t a complete disaster in his own zone, but he needs a lot of work to be anywhere near NHL level in that department. Given his penchant to roam around in the offensive zone, it does at times leave him exposed when play turns the other direction.
It also could be argued that he is always thinking offense over defense, a mindset that has served him well so far, but could be problematic if his dynamic offensive talents don’t completely carry over to the pro level. Simply put, his offense will have to create the bulk of his value, he probably won’t ever be an amazing, shutdown defender.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
At the 2017 NHL Draft, the Flyers selected Nolan Patrick second overall. With the next two picks, Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar were taken, and quickly became the defensive backbones of their respective teams. Taking Parekh would be an attempt to atone for that mistake. The high end of Parekh’s potential is that of a top-end offensive defenseman, he would be the future quarterback of the Flyers’ currently anemic power play, and be a top pair option for years to come.
Additionally, there is a chance that his elite offensive skills can help offset the fact that the Flyers don’t really have a ton of high-skill forwards who are proficient point producers. Parekh is such a great offensive talent that if it all translates to the NHL, he could potentially be relied on to produce like a second line forward.
The Flyers may be in more dire need of an elite centerman, but stockpiling high-end defensive prospects are never a bad idea, and the shelf life of players like Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen may not be long enough to actually make any difference to Parekh’s NHL trajectory. By the time he is ready to make the jump, the team will more than likely need reinforcements on the back end.
Can the Flyers actually get him?
EliteProspects’ consolidated draft rankings, a list that takes into consideration a collection of mock drafts from different outlets, has Parekh ranked 9th overall on aggregate. That’s just out of the Flyers range at 12, but there are scouts that have him falling a lil closer to the double digits due to the boom or bust nature of his abilities. Overall, it’s probably just a touch out of reach for the Flyers to really plan for him to be there when they make their selection, but there is still a chance that he is floating around when they do.
Also, depending on how highly the front office views Parekh, this could be a trade up possibility. This all depends on the internal rankings, but if the Flyers view Parekh as the best player availible, and he ends up falling into their laps, there’s a good chance they scoop him up.
What scouts are saying
“I think he’s a better defender than he gets credit for, his elite offensive abilities will win out, and his loose posture actually works for his makeup when you really zero in on why he plays and sets up the way he does on the ice.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
“Zayne is a dynamic talent. He’s equal parts shooter and distributor when quarterbacking the power play. He’s an elusive defenceman who walks the offensive blue line to open lanes.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
That’s just about a wrap for today! All that’s left is to make our addition to the poll. Next up is a well rounded but still skillsy forward in Tij Iginla (yes, as in that Iginla).
One of those players who carries a certain level of clear projectability that is tough to ignore in this draft class, Tij Iginla is just such a rock solid hockey player around the ice. I know that isn’t the most detailed analysis you’ve probably heard, but there just isn’t an area where Iginla truly shows weakness, and his strengths are diverse and solid. You can look at his goal totals and think he’s a triggerman, but you would be mistaken. Iginla’s offesive game is well-rounded, trying to create offense both for himself and linemates in scoring areas, with solid but not spectacular offensive threat metrics, and a high rate of shot attempt creation while on the ice. His ability to catch pucks in motion and carry momentum across bluelines and find pathways through opponents at a strong pace. He’s determined, quick on his feet, skilled, and more selfless than his raw production would indicate. It will be interesting if his intense, attacking style with the puck translates to the NHL, but there is plenty to fall back on and develop with Iginla, and he’s worked his way up my board one slot at a time this year.
Will Scouch, Scouching
Previously on the 2024 Community Draft Board…
