[mile]

Parekh interview with TSN

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/valji-parekh-...inaw-1.2232310

TSN: What do you feel, in hindsight, you could have done differently? Did anything catch you by surprise?

Parekh: Not much. It was a weird scenario where I came in after an injury and it was really short turnaround for a camp. I don't know what I could have changed. I think maybe just trying to do what I do best more. I think I was really worried about what people were telling me to do. I had a lot of people trying to tell me what to do in terms of the way I'm supposed to play and show my game. If I would have done it differently, I probably just would have played the game I usually play. That's with pace and with the puck and being creative.

TSN: Did anyone from the Flames reach out after all that happened?

Parekh: After I got sent home, I texted Ray [Edwards, director of player development], and then [general manager Craig Conroy] shot me a text, and kind of cheered me up and made me feel better.

TSN: The Spirit are gearing up for another playoff run. How different do you feel your game is now compared to a year ago?

Parekh: I feel a lot heavier out there. I think there's a lot more to my game that's grown on the other side of the puck. With the puck, I feel more dynamic. I feel like I’m really controlling the game from the back end. That’s all I can ask for from myself. Obviously I took on a bigger role this year, not having the same kind of group we did last year and all that talent we had. So, it's a little bit different for me but I’m really happy with how things are trending lately.

TSN: What specifically are you doing to get better on the other side of the puck?

Parekh: Yeah, me and Ray work together, and we talk a lot. I think just getting to hands more [when checking] has been a thing I've been working on a lot. As long as I'm ending momentum, is what Chris talks about a lot. [That’s] something that's in the back of my head. So just kind of make that a staple in my game and work from there. I'm probably never going to be the best shutdown defenceman in the NHL, and that's not what I'm trying to project, but just trying to become really good on my own end so that my coach can have trust to put me on the ice.