[MissTeeks]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1954379019421454489

https://www.nhl.com/news/zayne-parek...calgary-roster

CALGARY -- Zayne Parekh's junior days could be numbered.

The 19-year-old defenseman, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, will have "every opportunity" to make the Calgary Flames this fall, according to general manager Craig Conroy.

"It's the same thing that Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan did when they came in as young guys ... they just took a spot," Conroy said. "They played so well we could not send them back. That's the message for all our young guys. That's the best way to do it -- come in and earn a spot -- but he's going to be given every opportunity, obviously.

"He's a special, special player for us and we have high expectations, but we don't want to rush him to rush him. He is going to get a really good look at camp."

"I mean, everyone knows that for me, I’m trying to play in the NHL," said Parekh, who doesn't turn 20 until Feb. 15. "All my peers know that. I have a great support group and everybody’s pushing me every day and I’m pretty hard on myself, too. I’m going to keep working so that in the fall, it’s pretty far away, but I’ve got to have a big camp."

"I think if you watch the last game, and I know people are going to say it's the last game and it didn't mean anything ... well, it's the NHL," Conroy said. "I don't remember ever thinking, 'This game doesn't mean anything.' You're going out to play hard and to play to win.

"To see how he played and how he moves the puck and sees the ice and defending ... and he took a couple big hits in that game and he bounced right back up ... it gave me a lot of hope going into training camp to see where he might be. It was exciting to see him come in and play, and practice with our guys, running the power play ... he just does things a little bit differently than a lot of guys and it's fun to watch.

"He's still young and I don't want to overhype anything, but he looked very comfortable and very much like he could play in the NHL at the end of last year."