TERIK PARASCAK

Right Wing
5’11/174
Right
Prince George Cougars/WHL

Related: Cole Eiserman

Rising Rapidly on draft boards and draft rankings in Terik Parascak of the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, who is having a fantastic season, scoring 43 goals, 62 assists, and 105 points in 68 games. Nobody saw Parascak exploding offensively as he did, sure he has some solid linemates to lean on, but he’s humming around at more than a goal per game and nearly two points per game. Given he was playing prep hockey last year, it’s quite incredible. A vast majority of the points he has produced so far have come from the low slot and off one-touch plays, which seems strange at first given how poor his skating is. He shouldn’t be beating players to dangerous ice so consistently with that skating stride, and yet, he always is. He anticipates play offensively at a high level, knows how to get open and play off of a driver (which Becher is), has a great wrister and one-touch shot from mid-range, and always goes to the net when the play funnels there instead of hanging out wide and has skill around the net and in tight to his body when challenged by defenders. He’s not a flashy skater or individual playmaker off the rush but with timing and good skill, he makes things happen offensively. Parascak is an incredibly intelligent forward with decent puck skills and a great feel for the game; his skating needs to improve massively but has the upside to become a top 6, two-way forward. Terik Parascak projects to be a solid late first or early second-round pick.

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

Strengths

1. Parascak is a wizard offensively, he’s one of those players with that innate ability to go to where the puck will be and always has an option in all zones.
2. He is composed under pressure, connects with tape-to-tape passes, and has a great shot; he is very strong around the front of the net, and has a high hockey IQ.
3. One of the more naturally talented prospects in the 2024 draft class, he plays on both special teams and has deceptive speed & quickness that always makes him a scoring threat.

Areas of Improvement

1. His Skating is his biggest weakness; His stride is the biggest issue, and he will need to clean it up if he wants to make the NHL someday.
2. His defensive game is okay, but he doesn’t stand out in his own end by any means.

Scouting Report

Scoresheet-wise, there is so much to love with Terik Parascak, he is the leading scorer for the Prince George Cougars with 43 goals and 105 points in 105 games. Beyond the point totals, however, what makes Parascak so interesting is the way he puts up those points. A vast majority of the points he has produced so far have come from the low slot and off one-touch plays, which seems strange at first given how poor his skating is. He shouldn’t be beating players to dangerous ice so consistently with that skating stride, and yet, he always is. That’s a testament to how intelligent Parascak is, both on and off the puck. Perfectly-timed inside cuts, one-touch passes, and net drives put him and his teammates in prime scoring areas almost every shift, and he has also improved his long-range scoring to complement his short-range threat. Parascak is an incredibly intelligent forward with decent puck skills and a great feel for the game. His skating needs to improve massively, but has the upside to become a top-six, two-way forward. He’s one of those players with that innate ability to go to where the puck will be and always has an option in all zones. He is composed under pressure, connects with tape-to-tape passes, and has shown a consistent finishing ability, and one of the more naturally talented prospects in the 2024 draft class. Terik plays on both special teams and has deceptive speed & quickness that always makes him a scoring threat. Parascak is a wizard offensively, but his defensive lapses may drop his draft stock. He should be a late first-round pick and could be selected somewhere between 20-28, but there is a chance he slips into the second round and goes as late as 40th overall. His draft position will depend on whether teams are willing to work with him to improve his defensive structure, and whether or not they think he’s willing to work on his skating. My NHL Comparable is Dawson Mercer, who was drafted in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils and has been a solid middle 6 caliber forward who plays in all situations and has been able to chip in on the scoresheet from time to time. The Prince George Cougar has elevated his level of play at both ends of the ice and is lined up to be a late first-round or early second-round pick; If he continues to grow offensively, he could become a solid top-six forward.

Skill: Incredibly intelligent forward with decent puck skills and a great feel for the game.

NHL Comparable: Dawson Mercer

NHL Potential: Top 6 Two-Way Forward

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2022-23	Edge School U18 Prep	CSSHL U18	30	32	66
2023-24	Prince George Cougars	WHL	68	43	105

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