[Cali Panthers Fan]

Okay, so I'll start this by saying that I DO NOT follow any prospects before they're drafted. Until a team wants to pay me to do so, I'm not going to spend my time scouting players.

But I do watch player highlights after they're drafted to get a sense of them. Parekh is a special player.

Offensively, he is incredibly deft at moving the puck to a place where he can make a play or take a better shot. Very crafty and highly intelligent. I see the Makar/Karlsson comparables there easily.

Defensively, he's raw and needs some coaching, but the same skills of reading a play and anticipating things, making the right decision at the right time, and being crafty with his stick are all there. He's not overly physical, but he doesn't need to be. Skates well, but it's smooth and sneaky defensively. He does a great job of body positioning.

I just watched Gustav Forsling turn into one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game, and he doesn't do it with bruising physical play or highlight reel plays in his own end. He's quiet, intelligent, and incredibly effective at breaking up plays and turning the puck the other way. He has an exceptional stick and anticipates the play very well. Positions his body to break up cycles and rushes.

Parekh has the potential to be an elite offensive creator and an at least an average to above average defender, but maybe more if he models his game after Forsling. He has #1 d-man written all over him.