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

[memphusk]

Not playing the wrong way. What's wrong with you?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by fotze2

It's just bizarre that now all the youth prospect defenders are becoming like this. Why was there this massive black hole between Bobby Orr and now. No one remembered Bobby Orr?

A lot of it had to do with the 1990s expansion. Talent was diluted for a while, but what matters more, it was very unevenly distributed before the salary cap. If you were one of the small-market or expansion teams, you had little choice but to play a stifling trap system to compensate for your lack of scoring power. You might squeak out a 2-1 win against superior firepower, but if you played run and gun, you were much more likely to lose 5-3.

After Jacques Lemaire won the 1995 Stanley Cup for the New Jersey Devils, every weak team copied his trap system. If you're playing the trap, there's not much room for a high-flying offensive defenceman, and stay-at-home types were more likely to get NHL jobs – so minor-hockey coaches taught their defencemen to play that way.

Players like Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, and Al MacInnis grew up wanting to be the next Bobby Orr. If they'd come along a generation later, with their offensive talent, they'd probably have been taught to play forward instead. With all the small markets wanting defence-first defencemen, the supply of offensive defencemen dried up for all the teams, big and small. Kids just weren't coached to do that anymore. It was a terrible shame, and I'm very glad the defence position is being opened up again.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What is playing the right way mean ?

No idea. One of those nebulous terms “true hockey people” use to describe the good ole days. Defencemen play defence and are there to serve and steward the forwards. If you are lucky, you can jump in the play but only under these very strict circumstances/consitions.

It’s like “the code”. Dumb bullcrap that will never be snuffed out.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What is playing the right way mean ?

Doing the little things.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

A lot of it had to do with the 1990s expansion. Talent was diluted for a while, but what matters more, it was very unevenly distributed before the salary cap. If you were one of the small-market or expansion teams, you had little choice but to play a stifling trap system to compensate for your lack of scoring power. You might squeak out a 2-1 win against superior firepower, but if you played run and gun, you were much more likely to lose 5-3.

After Jacques Lemaire won the 1995 Stanley Cup for the New Jersey Devils, every weak team copied his trap system. If you're playing the trap, there's not much room for a high-flying offensive defenceman, and stay-at-home types were more likely to get NHL jobs – so minor-hockey coaches taught their defencemen to play that way.

Players like Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, and Al MacInnis grew up wanting to be the next Bobby Orr. If they'd come along a generation later, with their offensive talent, they'd probably have been taught to play forward instead. With all the small markets wanting defence-first defencemen, the supply of offensive defencemen dried up for all the teams, big and small. Kids just weren't coached to do that anymore. It was a terrible shame, and I'm very glad the defence position is being opened up again.

From what I’m seeing you pretty much have to be a Dman that can drive the play. There are so many 07’s to 10’s dmen that have those traits that are so good coming up that I think it’s going to be the norm. There are also the giant terrible kids with the Lincoln continental turning radii and have face punching potential that get too much love. UnLike Jackson Smith, huge and can move east west and demands to drive the play because he was allowed too and it resulted in picks in his own net. Infuriating for teammates and coaches? Maybe. Might go top five with the way he’s heating up.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Doing the little things.

Play one shift at a time.

You mean I can play a shift five shifts from now right now? Can I play a shift from next weeks game now?

[FBI]

I haven’t been this excited about a prospect since Gaudreau, and he turned out pretty good.

[CroFlames]

Is there a snowballs chance he would be considered for the World Championships?

[Robbob]

Owen Power went over as an 18 year old didn't he? I could see it.

[paley01]

Originally Posted by FBI

I haven’t been this excited about a prospect since Gaudreau, and he turned out pretty good.

Does anyone know what Gaudreau's NHLe was in his last college season before joining the NHL, and how that compares to Parekh's current season?

[Baaarrden]

Originally Posted by paley01

Does anyone know what Gaudreau's NHLe was in his last college season before joining the NHL, and how that compares to Parekh's current season?

64 based on 40 GP and 80P compared to 46 for Parekh this season based on 61 GP and 107P

[Monahammer]

https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/frozenpool_nhle.php

Here's the calculator in case anyone wants to play around

[Monahammer]

Obviously NHLe isn't 1-1, but it is pretty wild to think that Zayne's NHLe would have him leading the team in points by a dman, and 3rd overall on the roster behind Kadri and Huberdeau.

[Baaarrden]

Interestingly, Johnny finished with 64 points in 80 games his first full season with the Flames

[Monahammer]

Johnny-Mony-Hudler was so damn fun.

[InternationalVillager]

Per Byron Bader's model:

Gaudreau- 71 NHLe in D+3
Parekh- 40 NHLe in D+1 as of 2/27/25

In his model, I can't find any suitable comparables. He's 1 of 1 as far as I'm concerned. He's surpassed all other dmen.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Per Byron Bader's model:

Gaudreau- 71 NHLe in D+3
Parekh- 40 NHLe in D+1 as of 2/27/25

In his model, I can't find any suitable comparables. He's 1 of 1 as far as I'm concerned. He's surpassed all other dmen.

And this is the only real reason (for me personally) that I would trade Andersson.

I expect that Parekh will start on the 3rd pairing. As he eases into the year, I would hope that the role expands into 3rd pairing + PP2. Then, assuming all goes well, I believe by the end of the season he would take over the 2nd pairing position.

My concern would be that this may rush Parekh physically and increase the potential for injuries. Thus the reason for keeping Andersson would be to shelter Parekh more and to not leave such an open path for him to be rushed into the 2nd pairing too quickly.

Either way, he seems destined to become the top pairing RD... it is just going to come down to how he gets there and which vets he climbs over to get there.

[Enoch Root]

Why are you guys comparing Parekh's year to Johnny's D+3? Should be looking at his D+1

Parekh D+1: 46

Johnny D+1: 32
Johnny D+2: 47
Johnny D+3: 64

What Parekh did this year is insane - he put up almost 1.5 X what Johnny did (in NHLe)

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Why are you guys comparing Parekh's year to Johnny's D+3? Should be looking at his D+1

Parekh D+1: 46

Johnny D+1: 32
Johnny D+2: 47
Johnny D+3: 64

What Parekh did this year is insane - he put up almost 1.5 X what Johnny did (in NHLe)

It's on par with Rasmus Dahlin's 44 points in the NHL after he was drafted. I can't think of any other defender that's come close to that in the last 20 years.

[InternationalVillager]

Well Zeev Buium is pretty high....but his %s of Star + NHLer is not as high as Parekh.