NHL Draft Profile- Zayne Parekh
Saginaw Offensive Defenseman Climbing the Draft Boards
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The 2024 NHL Draft will be here before you know it, and Draft 412 will preview some of the prospects who will be probable first round picks. Draft 412 will review the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect, and where they should land in the NHL Draft.
Name- Zayne Parekh
Pos- D
Team- OHL- Saginaw
HT/WT- 6’0” 180 lbs
Born- 2/15/2006
Home – Nobleton, Ontario, Canada
Zayne Parekh was born in Nobleton, Ontario in Canada. While playing AAA hockey for the Markham Majors in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, Parekh was selected 19th overall in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft by the Saginaw Spirit. In his first full OHL season in 2022-2023, Parekh recorded 21 goals and 37 points in 50 games, breaking the record for most goals by a 16-year-old defenseman. He was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL First All-Rookie Team.
The 2023-2024 season saw Parekh set records as he continued to improve his overall game. Parekh tied the Saginaw Spirit club record set by Patrick McNeill for most goals by a defenseman in a single season, and not long after was selected as one of 40 draft-eligible prospects to attend the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He finished the season with 33 goals and 96 points, becoming only the second defenseman in league history to score at least 30 goals in their first season on NHL draft eligibility . He received the Max Kaminsky Trophy as OHL defenseman of the year, and finished 2nd in the MVP voting.
Strengths
- Smooth Skater
- Hard-Heavy Shot
- Offensive Defenseman
- Offensive Hockey IQ
Zayne Parekh is a smooth skating offensive defenseman. He understands the offensive side of the rink and plays like a 4th forward. His passes are crisp and he protects the puck well on his backhand. He is tough to contain at the point with his shiftiness.
He has a hard-heavy shot that always seems to find the net. He has elite skating ability and can fluidly change directions when needed. He skates side to side as well as any other defenseman in the draft.
Weaknesses
- Strength
- Defensive Zone
- Lackadaisical Play
On the downside, Parekh can be careless with his play and can try to make passes that cause odd-man rushes. At Saginaw he was able to roam freely with the puck and join the offense like he was a fourth forward. He will have to learn to rein in his overall offensive aggressiveness and learn to play in a system. He loses his matchup at times in the defensive zone and struggles defensively to tie up his opponent. Once again he will have to learn how to play with different type of urgency in the defensive end. Parkeh is a smaller framed defenseman who will need to continue to add strength and muscle to his slight build.
Zayne Parekh reminds Draft Nation of New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox. They are both on the smaller side and excel on offense. Fox has improved each season in the defensive end and can be used 20+ minutes a game now. Fox added weight since being drafted and Parekh will need to do the same to play at a high level.
When a team drafts Zayne Parekh they will need to know they are getting an offensive defenseman who has the potential to be elite. However, he will struggle in the defensive end. Parekh's offense gives him the chance to be a No. 1 defenseman and a player who should excel on the power play, going off the board between picks 10-20 in round one.
Draft Nation Draft Projection- 1st round pick
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