ZAYNE PARAKH

Defenseman
6’0/170
Right
Saginaw Spirit/OHL

Related: Zeev Buium

An electric offensive defenseman, Parekh scored a record-setting 21 goals for a 16-year-old OHL blue-liner last season. He’s followed it up with 40 points in 27 games, making for the highest scoring rate by a draft-eligible defenseman in the league since Ryan Ellis in 2008-09. His offensive game is so advanced as he’s always got a plan when the puck is on his stick. Parekh is the king of deception and misdirection; he will line up his eyesight and hips in one direction getting opponents to chase in that direction before flipping his hips fluidly and cutting up or cutting back against the grain unevaded to the net. The Saginaw defenseman has an elite sense of the offensive game, making him a threat every time he crosses center ice with or without the puck. His scoring is off the charts in the 2023-24 season, as in 46 games, he has registered 23 goals, 46 assists, and 69 points with the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL. The one knock on him is that he gives half-efforts on defense at times and he needs to work on his play away from the puck, but his offensive game is up there with any defenseman in this draft. Zayne Parakh has the potential to be a top 4 offensive defenseman who has high offensive output, but due to his deficiencies on the defensive end, might need more time to be NHL-ready. For this reason, it could cause him to slide out of the top 10 despite his eye-popping stats from the back end.

Size/Strength Average
Skating Excellent
Shot/Scoring Great
Puckhandling Great
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Excellent
Defensive Play Below Average
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Good

Strengths

1. His offensive game is so advanced, as he’s always got a plan when the puck is on his stick. Parekh is the king of deception and misdirection.
2. regularly involves himself in the rush much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to look to put defenders on their heels with his skating and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush.
3. Has an elite sense of the offensive game, making him a threat every time he crosses center ice with or without the puck.

Areas of Improvement

1. Gives half effort on defense and cheats for offense.
2. Play away from the puck needs work.
3. Can be lackadaisical with the puck, at times.

Scouting Report

Zayne Parekh is the most dynamic defenseman in this year’s draft class. Parekh is the king of deception and misdirection as he will line up his eyesight and hips in one direction getting opponents to chase in that direction before flipping his hips fluidly and cutting up or cutting back against the grain unevaded to the net. Parekh is an excellent passer and playmaker and works the give-and-go to a high level. To top things off, Parekh is a gifted goal scorer who can rip the puck past OHL goalies. The Saginaw Spirit defenseman has an elite sense of the offensive game, making him a threat every time he crosses center ice with or without the puck. He already has 23 goals and 69 points through 46 games in the 2023-24 season, which is bonkers, is definitely a player to watch at the Memorial Cup this spring. He plays an aggressive offensive style that looks to attack off the line into the slot or even the front of the net or below the goal line. He’ll also regularly involve himself in the rush much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to look to put defenders on their heels with his skating and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush. At times he can be a bit too smooth to the point where it becomes lackadaisical with the puck. This results in throwing soft no-look passes directly to the other team or allowing the puck to fall off his stick as he wasn’t careful enough with it. Defensively, Parekh is aggressive and effectively breaking up passes through the neutral zone. He times his pinches well forcing turnovers that he can immediately convert into offensive chances. Although he has improved as a defender, he takes a shift off in the defensive zone in favor of offensive changes, and his play away from the puck also needs to be improved. The best NHL comparison for Zayne Parekh is Ryan Ellis, who was a monster in the OHL and was a very highly hyped defenseman, and many thought he would be one of the best offensive defensemen one day. Overall, the excellent skating and offensive instincts and traits are incredibly valuable that you will accept some of the warts with his game because this potential is too good to pass up. Parekh’s game is one of dynamism, creativity, and surgical precision in his activations from the point, he could be the most skilled blueliner that Canada has produced since Cale Makar.

Skill: Dynamic, offensive defenseman with high-level skill and creativity; has all the tools to be the top offensive defenseman in this draft.

NHL Comparable: Ryan Ellis

NHL Potential: Top 4 Offensive Defenseman

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2022-23	Saginaw Spirit	OHL	50	21	37
	Canada Black U17	WHC-17	7	3	5
2023-24	Saginaw Spirit	OHL	46	23	69
	Canada U18	Hlinka Gretzky Cup	5	0	3

Bet Now