Zayne Parekh – Saginaw Spirit – Player Profile

HT	WT	DOB	POS	SHOOTS	OHL DRAFT	NHLCS	COUNTRY
6’	180	Feb 15, 2006	D	R	19th 2022	10 Mid Term	CANADA

SEASON	LEAGUE	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS
2021-2022	GTHL U16	Markham Majors	23	8	12	21
2022-2023	OHL	Saginaw Spirit	50	21	16	37
2022-2023	WHC-17	Canada Black	7	3	2	5
2023-2024	OHL	Saginaw Spirit	56	30	54	84
		Projects to	66	35	64	99

We knew after a rookie OHL season in which he scored 21 goals and 16 assists in 50 games as a defenceman, Zayne Parekh of the Saginaw Spirit would do something special this season. And that is exactly what we are seeing.

Whether you believe Parekh will be the first blueliner selected in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft or whether that honor belongs to Sam Dickinson of the London Knights, it doesn’t matter. One NHL team is going to get an extremely gifted offensive defenceman.

His ability to create offence begins with his elite level hockey IQ. Add in high level mobility – although more speed would be welcomed, and you have a player that is hard to contain. Combine that with elite playmaking skills and you can see why he racks up assists. He also possesses an excellent shot from the point that he can get through with a purpose that generally create second chance opportunities.

But is Parekh one-dimensional? That seems to be the one knock on him in the scouting world but could it be the all-out, go for it system employed by the Spirit? That surely has something to do with it and it all flows through Parekh.

But I see a player who has improved in his own zone with a strong active stick and situational awareness. He could stand to be a little more physical but all in all, he is trending in the right direction.

There may be some safer picks out there. Some of the things we hear now about Parekh are things we’ve heard in the past with former OHL’ers Pavel Mintyukov, Ryan Merkley and Ryan Murphy. We know how they made out.

Definitely high risk, high reward.