The Nashville Predators brass are crossing off calendar dates and getting closer and closer to draft day. There are options for the Predators with the 22nd pick in this year’s NHL draft. We’ve already discussed Sacha Boisvert and his potential fit with the team, and now we’re moving on to Terik Parascak.
Parascak is a scoring winger who currently plays for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. His rookie season was very impressive. Over the course of 68 regular season games, Parascak scored 43 points and added 62 assists for a total of 105 points. He also spent 41 minutes in the penalty box and was plus 49 on the season. His playoffs also were solid, with a 14-point (6 goals, 8 assists) performance.
His 105 points lead all WHL rookie skaters. His +49 this season also led all WHL rookies and ranked 4th in all of the WHL. His totals also placed him in the top 10 amongst all WHL scorers finishing eighth in goals and ninth in points in the league. He is the 15th-ranked North American skater and has shown that he has a very strong shot. He can fire a wicked wrister and connect on one-timers with ease. He’s also shown a very strong hockey IQ over the course of his rookie season. Playing with Ondrej Becher and Zac Funk, (Becher is a ranked prospect who expects to be a later-round pick and Funk signed a 3 three entry-level deal with Washington back in March) they ran roughshod over the WHL, each producing big numbers. Parascak in particular became known for his constant movement in the offensive zone, and his ability to find spaces to get his shot off, and with the puck to draw defenders to him to give his teammates opportunities.
Here’s TSN analyist Craig Button giving a quick rundown and some rankings on Parascak’s play.
Parasack is a bit of a 1st round project. He has big skills in his arsenal and at 6’0″ and 175 pounds has the requisite size to pass most visual inspections. The problem is nobody is sure if he can pull off a repeat performance without his overage comrades helping him out. Parasack will surely return to juniors this season, and the Prince George offense will be placed in his hands. If he can prove to help drive a top-line himself, it will answer the lingering questions about him. His skating is one of them, and defensively he could probably contribute more.
A player of Parasck’s skill set seems really enticing when you consider the types of players that are already featuring for the Predators. They have playmakers galore and are in need of another true triggerman. On the power play Roman Josi, Gustav Nyquist, and Filip Forsberg have shown to be especially adept at finding an open man, and nobody on the team really has a one-timer like Parasck’s. At even strength, he could blend in anywhere in the top six, as long as he learns to keep up his end of the bargain in his own zone.
As you can see from his highlight real, he is a shooter, always seems to get to a quality scoring spot, and has an opportunistic streak about his game. Barry Trotz has to be seriously considering giving Andrew Brunette a weapon like Parascak to utilize.
