Kalem Parker
2022-23 Workforce: Victoria Royals
Date of Beginning: Oct 12, 2004
Place of Beginning: Clavet, SK.
Peak: 6-foot, Weight: 187 kilos
Shoots: Proper
Place: Defence
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2023 first-year eligible
Rankings
One of many oldest first-year draft-eligible gamers within the draft, Victoria Royals’ Kalem Parker continued to enhance all through the season and confirmed he’s able to enjoying massive minutes successfully. As Victoria’s high defenceman, he performed in all conditions and was their major matchup defender towards the opposition’s high strains. An excellent skater who carried out nicely within the transition sport, he’s a kind of under-the-radar prospects who will not be mentioned through the season however actually impresses in coaching camp for whichever staff drafts him.
The place Parker shines is transitioning the puck out of his personal zone and thru heart ice. He loves to steer the cost into the offensive zone and is ready to attract in defenders, opening up house for his teammates. As soon as within the offensive zone, he isn’t afraid to pinch down the boards and transfer across the zone with the puck on his stick to vary the angle, aiming to create higher scoring possibilities. He additionally has the power to ship crisp, cross-ice passes to seek out open teammates, in addition to lengthy breakout passes, when he notices one in every of his forwards has already made their transfer up the ice.
Associated: 2023 NHL Draft Information
Newest Information & Highlights
Parker can also be a participant that isn’t afraid to play an aggressive type in his personal zone. He likes to stress the opposing puck provider, getting proper up of their face and is at all times searching for the possibility to throw an enormous hit in open ice. Whereas he nonetheless must work on his total timing of when to be aggressive and when to sit down again, it’s a good signal that he has developed that intuition, because it led to quite a lot of created turnovers and alternatives for his staff to clear the zone this season.
This season, Parker put up a career-high six objectives and 38 factors in 68 video games. He additionally led all Royals gamers with 14 energy play assists and handed the 100-shot plateau for the primary time in his profession. Regardless of Victoria struggling the previous two seasons, lacking the postseason in each years, he continued to ship standout performances and was named the highest defenceman on the staff this previous season.
Whereas there are a number of traits that make Parker an intriguing prospect, the rationale he might be a later-round choose is his total play within the defensive zone. Whereas he’s a good defender, there are areas that want enchancment, like his potential to strip gamers of the puck by poke checks or successful board battles towards larger opposition. The excellent news is these are areas of his sport that did present enchancment all through the season and traits that may be developed extra with the assistance of an NHL franchise.
Different THW Profiles
Kalem Parker- NHL Draft Projection
Parker has developed to the purpose that he ought to be a mid to late-round choose. He additionally performs a premium place as a right-handed defenceman and has some Hockey Canada expertise, as he was a part of the U18 staff in 2022. For these causes, count on him to be picked within the late fourth spherical/early fifth spherical, someplace between one hundred and twentieth and one hundred and thirtieth total.
Quotables
“I actually like the way in which Parker has progressed this season, taking the reins because the Royals’ high defenceman and logging massive minutes in all conditions for the staff. Parker’s skating, whereas at all times a relative energy, has solely continued to enhance, and the fluidity of his stride actually enhances his playstyle.” – Donesh Mazloum, FC Hockey.
“The important thing to a number of success for Parker is how fast he is ready to regulate to performs by the fluidity of his skating. His turns, edges, cuts, and ahead strides permit him to achieve floor on nearly each scenario by both eliminating a participant alongside the boards by taking their lane or reducing away from stress on retrievals behind the web.”- Joel Henderson, FC Hockey.
Strengths
- Defending towards the oppositions transition sport
- Skating
- Transitioning the puck out of his personal zone
- Willingness to play aggressively
Below Building – Enhancements to Make
- Use of stick whereas defending
- Timing of when to play aggressive
- Profitable board battles
NHL Potential
Parker is a prospect that’s keen to place within the work and has proven he can succeed below stress. He’s nonetheless growing, however based mostly on the progress that he made this season, there’s completely a path for him to make the NHL sooner or later. If he does, count on him to be a third-pair defenceman who sees time on the penalty kill.
Danger-Reward
Danger – 1/5, Reward – 2.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 5/10, Protection – 5.5/10
Achievements & Awards
- 2018-19 SAAHL U15 Champion
