Parekh was on-track I thought up until he got hurt. He was even promoted to PP1, and was looking increasingly better.
I do think he needs more strength (not necessarily size, but he could stand to put on a bit more as a defencemen - Gaudreau didn't HAVE to battle in the corners, right? So for me, defencemen simply need more strength).
I believe the main concern I have had with his play in the NHL was his relative lack of awareness - he took some fairly substantial hits. Throwing him into another year of junior isn't going to solve it - I think he was 'fine' in the NHL, and improving. The Flames were playing lousy overall as well at that point, and I think if he was playing on the Flames instead of the WJC, he would have also looked visibly better (and I am not saying it was a mistake to send him to the WJC - it obviously was the right move).
If the CHL at least played less games and allowed for more training (like the NCAA), that would of course be optimal. Putting him back in the CHL seems more like wrapping him in bubble-wrap to keep him safe - he isn't going to learn to be more elusive there, or adapt to the NHL speed. The only really good landing spot would have been the NCAA. Now? I think the NHL is the best available option, and he just really needs to increase his on-ice awareness as he will become more and more a target as he improves. His teammates will have to help him out with that by being vocal.
The only thing that I feel is holding him back is the awareness component - he was on the receiving end of too many hits.
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