Offensive dynamo Terik Parascak is the next player the Vegas Golden Knights could consider drafting with their 19th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Offensive dynamo Terik Parascak is the next player the Vegas Golden Knights could consider drafting with their 19th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Turning 18 in five days, Parascak is a 5'11, 179 lbs right-handed winger. He recently completed his first full season in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars, scoring 43 goals and 105 points. He also recorded 62 assists in 68 games. He finished tied for seventh in goals and eighth in points across the entire WHL.
He finished with the third most points on the team and second most goals. Zac Funk and Riley Heidt were the only two players to finish with more points than Parascak. Heidt was a Minnesota Wild second-round pick in the 2023 NHL draft and Funk was recently signed to a three-year entry-level contract by the Washington Capitals.
As of now, the biggest flaws that are holding Parascak from being a top-10 talent in the draft are his skating and defensive abilities. He isn't blessed with blazing speed that some of the other prospects the Golden Knights could consider such as Michael Hage and Ryder Ritchie, but his hockey IQ offensively is off the charts.
Parascak reads the game extremely well. He is able to position himself in good shooting opportunities and is able to read his teammates well to be an outstanding playmaker.
He's composed with the puck, has the hands and puck skills to create a ton of offence and heavy shot capable of beating goaltenders anywhere in the offensive zone.
Many scouts believe that Parascak has the potential to be a top-six winger in the NHL but he'll need time to develop. He needs to get stronger, play a bit more physically, add some speed to his game and needs to focus on becoming a better defensive player.
Due to the unpredictability of the NHL draft, Parascak could go as early as the 19th pick or as late as the 40th pick. He is an interesting player who if developed correctly, could become a highly impactful player in the NHL.
Similar to Ritchie and Hage, Parascak will need time to develop but if the Golden Knights are willing to put in the effort to develop him the right way, they could have an important piece of their future.
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