[chummer]

Parekh sure seems like a home run but it will be interesting to see how he compares to Zeev Buium who was taken right after him by Minnesota.

This is a piece on him by Scott Wheeler of the Athletic-

Buium put together one of the best seasons by a teenage defenseman in modern college hockey history last year, has been a big part of two gold medal-winning World Junior teams and is having another excellent sophomore season that has continued to solidify his status as one of the top D prospects in the NHL. As a freshman, he produced above the rates of established NHL stars at the same age and elevated again and again in big moments (the World Juniors, the NCHC Tournament and finally the national championship). Buium, a December 2005 birthday who spent two seasons at the national program before his draft year, wasn’t viewed like he is now coming out of the NTDP but did really hit his stride in the second half of his U18 year, becoming a driver for the U18s and showing glimpses of what was to come. In college, after growing to 6 feet, he has not only maintained his identity but has really expanded on it, playing leading minutes and impacting play in all areas with his very active and influential brand of hockey.

He’s a plus-level skater and handler who plays an extremely involved game in all three zones, whether that’s activating into the rush or off the point, shaking pressure on exits or across/off the blue line (which he does extraordinarily well, making opposing players miss), working in and out of give-and-gos, or playing tight gaps against the rush. He’s a very busy player on both sides of the puck and he gets in and out of his transitions and footwork so quickly that he can play that style. When he’s dialed in, applying pressure on and off the puck and using his feet and his skating to influence play, he can really impact a game in a lot of ways and take over play both offensively (with his activations and evasiveness in the offensive zone) and defensively (with his ability to swallow up top players). His shakes and deception have gone from a strength to a game-breaking quality. His head is always on a swivel. He opens up and walks the line to create lanes for his shot and pass so well, even working off his off-side. He side-steps past opposing players with ease. He’s got great hands (complemented by those inside edges and shoulder fakes). Some questioned his lack of physicality (with one scout even calling him soft) early on in his draft year but those questions have been emphatically answered in the last 12 months going to work on some of the more talented forwards in college hockey defensively in big moments — and top players at the World Juniors (I thought after a bit of an off start in this year’s tournament that he really elevated in the medal round and defended at a high level). He has learned that the faster he cuts off plays the more he can play offense, and has really begun to take space more assertively defensively (on top of all of his stickwork and footwork). He’ll occasionally lose a battle in front or in the corner but he defends at a high level in every other area and his ability to shake and dance past and around coverage can really open up the offensive zone for his team when he’s out there.

He has played some very high-level hockey for a while now (two springs ago to finish strong at the NTDP, again at the World Junior Summer Showcase, again at two World Juniors and as a big-time freshman and sophomore in college) and projects as a first-pairing, play-driving, extremely involved defenseman with a real chance at stardom.