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Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald
I don't know where all of this nonsense about Parekh's defensive game is coming from but he is NOT weak defensively. Every junior age player is weak defensively compared to the rigor of NHL systems, but at his age and against his peers, Parekh is one of the best in the CHL. His defensive game is actually really underrated, just like Makar's was when he played in college. This kid is going to be a rock back there and be a foundational piece.
Conroy has done some incredible work to rebuild the back end in the system. Having Poirier (grossly underrated around here), Morin, Kuznetsov, and Solovyov as the only defensemen with upside was a huge problem. Not only did he bring back some guys to fill holes in Miromanov, Hanley, Pachal, and Bahl but he's added some exciting prospects in Brzustewicz, Jurmo, and Grushnikov. Parekh is piece that really just pulls this group together and lets you see a path forward to functioning group in the future. When they say you build a champion from the goal and blueline out you can see what Conroy is doing.
Mid-season after we got Brzustewicz I looked at the OHL scoring race and started paying a lot of attention to the draft eligible players on the blueline across the CHL, hoping for another core piece. Parekh and Dickenson obviously stood out, but Parehk just continued to shine and be "that guy" you hope the Flames would draft. After Celebrini, Parekh was tops on my list. I can't believe he fell to the Flames and they took him. I think we just got the second best player in the 2024 draft. I definitely think we got the one player that is going to have the biggest impact on the team that drafted him. Parekh just became the player the Flames will build around for the next decade IMO. Exciting times ahead!
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Agreed
To me it seems like a lazy criticism to say the 18 year old offensive minded defence man isn’t good defensively. Same things were probably said about Makar, Hughes, and Dahlin.
Admittedly I haven’t paid as much attention to the OHL but based on what I’ve read/heard. Parekh’s game has improved defensively and he has a good stick although, in his words, he’s not going to blow anyone up. I also like what he has to say regarding his strengths (paraphrasing) ‘I’m not getting drafted to defend I’m getting drafted because I’m an elite puck moving defence man’. Appreciate that self assured confidence and awareness. He’s knows what he’s excelling at. That’s important especially at a young age. I think he only gets better.
Great pick by the Flames.