Zayne Parekh

November 2023 – Zayne Parekh is the most dynamic defenseman in this year’s draft class. His offensive game is so advanced as he’s always got a plan when the puck is on his stick. Parekh is the king of deception and misdirection as he will line up his eyesight and hips in one direction getting opponents to chase in that direction before flipping his hips fluidly and cutting up or cutting back against the grain unevaded to the net. Parekh is an excellent passer and playmaker and works the give-and-go to a high level. To top things off, Parekh is a gifted goal scorer who can rip the puck past OHL goalies. At times he can be a bit too smooth to the point where it becomes lackadaisical with the puck. This results in throwing soft no-look passes directly to the other team or allowing the puck to fall off his stick as he wasn’t careful enough with it. Defensively, Parekh is aggressive and effectively breaking up passes through the neutral zone. He times his pinches well forcing turnovers that he can immediately convert to offensive chances. He’s improved as a defender against the rush, but in his own zone you’d like to see be a bit harder. Overall, the excellent skating and offensive instincts and traits are incredibly valuable that you will accept some of the warts with his game because the good is too rare to find elsewhere. Jordan Harris (November Rankings: 4th overall)