Parekh named OHL defenseman of the month.....again.

[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.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I liked them both heading into the draft last year, and had them pretty even, and neither has done much to change that.
So as a tie-breaker - you take the guy that doesn't have the potential signability issues.

[AustinL_NHL]

Calgary is happy with the Canadian, Minnesota is happy with the American

[chummer]

Great points.

[GreenLantern2814]

Take the right handed Canadian who moves like liquid metal.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Parekh has the higher ceiling. His offensive ability sets him apart.

[The Fonz]

It’s only been 1 year since the draft, but boy am I happy the Flames didn’t get sucked into drafted the giant, Silayev.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

It’s only been 1 year since the draft, but boy am I happy the Flames didn’t get sucked into drafted the giant, Silayev.

Do wonder how a redraft would go at this point. It’s obviously still very early in all these players’ careers but I think there would be some decent movement in the top 10-12 in draft rankings today. My attempt (ignoring teams that picking - just draft rankings):

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Parekh
4. Buium
5. Catton
6. Sennecke
7. Dickinson
8. Lindstrom
9. Levshunov
10. Iginla
11. Yakemchuk
12. Silayev

Parekh at 3rd overall is probably my flames bias. As always with most draft rankings, it could probably be put into groupings/tiers where the ranking difference is pretty close:

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Parekh, Buium, Catton and Sennecke
4. Dickinson, Lindstrom, Levshunov and Iginla
5. Yakemchuk and Silayev

Iginla and Lindstrom are wildcards at this point because of their injuries. Still love them as prospects and their rankings would be higher if they both return to form over the next year or so.

[Bingo]

I think you start him in the NHL next year if he has a good camp.

Then ease him in. He doesn't have to play every game, etc.

Let him go to the WJC at Xmas time and then make a decision when the tournament is over.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Do wonder how a redraft would go at this point. It’s obviously still very early in all these players’ careers but I think there would be some decent movement in the top 10-12 in draft rankings today. My attempt (ignoring teams that picking - just draft rankings):

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Parekh
4. Buium
5. Catton
6. Sennecke
7. Dickinson
8. Lindstrom
9. Levshunov
10. Iginla
11. Yakemchuk
12. Silayev

Parekh at 3rd overall is probably my flames bias. As always with most draft rankings, it could probably be put into groupings/tiers where the ranking difference is pretty close:

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Parekh, Buium, Catton and Sennecke
4. Dickinson, Lindstrom, Levshunov and Iginla
5. Yakemchuk and Silayev

Iginla and Lindstrom are wildcards at this point because of their injuries. Still love them as prospects and their rankings would be higher if they both return to form over the next year or so.

This is how I see it which tries to factor in team need a little.

1. SJ: Macklin
2. Chicago: Demidov
3. Anaheim: Sennecke
4. CBJ: Levshunov
5. Montreal: Catton
6. Utah: Parekh or Buium
7. Ottawa: Parekh (if Buium goes ahead), if not then Iginla
8. Seattle: Dickinson
9. Calgary: Iginla if still on the board, if not would they take Lindstrom here? Yakemchuk?

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think you start him in the NHL next year if he has a good camp.

Then ease him in. He doesn't have to play every game, etc.

Let him go to the WJC at Xmas time and then make a decision when the tournament is over.

I feel this is the play as well, protected minutes and lots of PP time to get that confidence going.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think you start him in the NHL next year if he has a good camp.

Then ease him in. He doesn't have to play every game, etc.

Let him go to the WJC at Xmas time and then make a decision when the tournament is over.

Hopefully Hockey Canada selects him for the WJC team....

[Enoch Root]

Difficult to see how Senneke would be ranked ahead of Parekh right now, with Parekh outproducing him. As a defenseman.

Levshunov is a mystery box.

Catton is a tough one - probably on the same tier as Parekh and Buium.

For me it's:

1) Celebini
2) Demidov
3) Parekh, Buium
4) Catton, Senneke, Iginla
5) Dickinson

With Levshunov probably slotting in 3rd, but really difficult to say exactly where he should go.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Difficult to see how Senneke would be ranked ahead of Parekh right now, with Parekh outproducing him. As a defenseman.

Levshunov is a mystery box.

Catton is a tough one - probably on the same tier as Parekh and Buium.

For me it's:

1) Celebini
2) Demidov
3) Parekh, Buium
4) Catton, Senneke, Iginla
5) Dickinson

With Levshunov probably slotting in 3rd, but really difficult to say exactly where he should go.

You're underselling Sennecke a smidge. I don't really disagree on your rankings per se, but he's producing at basically the exact same PPG as Parekh on a much worse team. Plus he's a big big body, long reach power winger with hands of silk.

I'd probably put him in the same tier as Parekh and Buium based on your rankings, definitely one ahead of Catton/Iginla.

[jaikorven]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

You're underselling Sennecke a smidge. I don't really disagree on your rankings per se, but he's producing at basically the exact same PPG as Parekh on a much worse team. Plus he's a big big body, long reach power winger with hands of silk.

I'd probably put him in the same tier as Parekh and Buium based on your rankings, definitely one ahead of Catton/Iginla.

He's a winger and Parekh is a defenceman, so that should put Parekh ahead, no?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by jaikorven

He's a winger and Parekh is a defenceman, so that should put Parekh ahead, no?

And the fact that he’s bigger, which is an advantage against junior players.

Parekh > Sennecke for sure, today.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Difficult to see how Senneke would be ranked ahead of Parekh right now, with Parekh outproducing him. As a defenseman.

Levshunov is a mystery box.

Catton is a tough one - probably on the same tier as Parekh and Buium.

For me it's:

1) Celebini
2) Demidov
3) Parekh, Buium
4) Catton, Senneke, Iginla
5) Dickinson

With Levshunov probably slotting in 3rd, but really difficult to say exactly where he should go.

Comes down to ranking v. actual sequencing.
I kept Senneke with Anaheim because of how much Verbeek loves him and the fact they are pertty solid on their blueline pipeline.

So doesn't mean I rank him 3rd - just that I think he would still go 3rd in a re-draft.

If it's a re-ranking I would have it different.

[FlamesAddiction]

At this point, it doesn't look like you could have gone wrong picking Parekh, Buium, or Dickenson. Each defenseman has their own characteristics, but they all look like great prospects. We'll have to see how they start to separate once they make the jump to the NHL.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think you start him in the NHL next year if he has a good camp.

Then ease him in. He doesn't have to play every game, etc.

Let him go to the WJC at Xmas time and then make a decision when the tournament is over.

I agree, except if he ends up being a everyday player for the Flames then no reason for him to play in WJC. He would be NHLer at that point. I think if he goes to the WJC it usually means he is headed to Juniors afterwards because he is struggling at the NHL level.

[saillias]

I read somewhere, the reason Buium fell was draft interviews and word from his representation indicating he only wanted to play in certain markets and he scared away all Canadian teams and some American including SJ at 11.