The Washington Capitals knew they were going to get a strong prospect in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, with the 17th overall pick putting them in prime position to take a strong name. Ultimately, they decided on a player that was projected to go later on: Terik Parascak.
Here's why D.C. chose to roll the dice on him earlier on.
Parascak, who turned 18 in May, is coming off of one of the most impressive junior rookie campaigns the WHL has seen in a long time. In 68 games, he registered 43 goals and 62 assists for 105 points with the Prince George Cougars.
The 6-foot, 176-pound winger has come a long way since his prep hockey days, as he put in the work to improve his skating, hockey IQ and skill set to not only make the jump to the WHL but to thrive there as well.
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Parascak is a strong playmaker with incredible hockey sense and positioning. He takes good care of the puck and has quick hands and good playmaking ability, but he also has a strong shot and the ability to adjust and finish plays, too.
He was dubbed the "super rookie" in Prince George this past season, and that's exactly what Washington wanted: a young, strong forward who can bring more scoring to the mix, especially as the Alex Ovechkin era comes to an end.
So, that's why he went 17th. D.C. is banking on him continuing to grow and become an elite player that could end up being the steal of the draft.
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Parascak showed what he could do at development camp, as he worked on improving his skating with Wendy Marco while showcasing his stickhandling, speed and vision while working with the likes of Ryan Leonard and other rising prospects.
During camp, he signed his entry-level contract with Washington and is expected to attend rookie camp and training camp in September.
While Parascak still has ways to go and areas to improve, and likely needs more time in juniors before coming up to the NHL, expect him to continue to grow and become a key part of the future for Washington up front.
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