[News] With the 9th OA pick, Flames select D Zayne Parekh

[Paulie Walnuts]

Picking this guy over some lug like Silayev just because he’s big gives me so much more confidence in this management team.

You need offence and you need it from the backend. This guy has the potential to be a game beaker from the backend. He’s not Makar but the ability to get pucks up and out and get them through on net it huge.

When you get into the playoffs it’s little plays that make a difference. Tips, deflections off bodies decide 2-1 wins when you get deep into things.

I’m so excited with this pick.

[expatflame]

How far away is he from NHL level?

[EldrickOnIce]

What I like most about this draft, from a board perspective, is the guys who have been banging the drums forever about drafting skill/talent are happy with this draft. This makes me happy

[gimmeanearful]

Based on the kids highlights, he sure seems to be confident. I like that he relies on a wrist shot and finds room to move up to the circle before letting it rip. Fingers crossed that he puts on a bit more size for the defensive zone.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Okay, so I'll start this by saying that I DO NOT follow any prospects before they're drafted. Until a team wants to pay me to do so, I'm not going to spend my time scouting players.

But I do watch player highlights after they're drafted to get a sense of them. Parekh is a special player.

Offensively, he is incredibly deft at moving the puck to a place where he can make a play or take a better shot. Very crafty and highly intelligent. I see the Makar/Karlsson comparables there easily.

Defensively, he's raw and needs some coaching, but the same skills of reading a play and anticipating things, making the right decision at the right time, and being crafty with his stick are all there. He's not overly physical, but he doesn't need to be. Skates well, but it's smooth and sneaky defensively. He does a great job of body positioning.

I just watched Gustav Forsling turn into one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game, and he doesn't do it with bruising physical play or highlight reel plays in his own end. He's quiet, intelligent, and incredibly effective at breaking up plays and turning the puck the other way. He has an exceptional stick and anticipates the play very well. Positions his body to break up cycles and rushes.

Parekh has the potential to be an elite offensive creator and an at least an average to above average defender, but maybe more if he models his game after Forsling. He has #1 d-man written all over him.

[EVERLAST]

I wish we had a really good former player as a d coach. Playfair was that kinda guy .

I've always liked hearing Sarich talk about what he sees and always thought he be a great asst coach too .

Excited about Zayne though as I keep hearing more snd more ....he's like the icing on the cake after getting Bruce too ....more big rangy D men coming too with skill .

Conroy and the scouts are sticking to a plan .

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Bonded

So can I get excited about him having #1D upside?

His upside is the kind of player Calgary hasn’t had since MacInnis.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

I wish we had a really good former player as a d coach. Playfair was that kinda guy .

I've always liked hearing Sarich talk about what he sees and always thought he be a great asst coach too .

Excited about Zayne though as I keep hearing more snd more ....he's like the icing on the cake after getting Bruce too ....more big rangy D men coming too with skill .

Conroy and the scouts are sticking to a plan .

Huska is also such a guy. I hope to have Gio around the organization if he can't find a team for next season.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by expatflame

How far away is he from NHL level?

Entirely plausible he gets 9 games to start the season.

More likely he becomes a full time NHLer next year (25/26).

Would be astonishing if it takes any longer than that.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Picking this guy over some lug like Silayev just because he’s big gives me so much more confidence in this management team.

You need offence and you need it from the backend. This guy has the potential to be a game beaker from the backend. He’s not Makar but the ability to get pucks up and out and get them through on net it huge.

When you get into the playoffs it’s little plays that make a difference. Tips, deflections off bodies decide 2-1 wins when you get deep into things.

I’m so excited with this pick.

I agree that I prefer this pick, but Saliyev is not a lug. Folks were hig on him because his skating is so good.

[mrdonkey]

I still can't believe he was available at 9. Iggy would have been a nice story, but Parekh is maybe the most impactful pick the Flames have had since Tkachuk, who also shouldn't have been there when they selected. He's going to be really good.

Let's just hope he also doesn't want to go to the rink in flip flops.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Entirely plausible he gets 9 games to start the season.

More likely he becomes a full time NHLer next year.

Would be astonishing if it takes any longer than that.

Flames are in full tank mode for next season, give the kid a few games to get a taste but otherwise let him mature in the OHL for his senior season. That's another benefit of the Flames finally taking the full rebuild route, no need to put pressure on prospects to jump in right away

[Classic_Sniper]

Pleasantly surprised about this pick. Didn’t know anything about Zayne Parekh, so thought I’d watch one of his games and wow, he sure has potential to be an impact player.


Pros:
- Sublime skater, not the fastest skater, but very fluid, very elusive and his lateral mobility and footwork is off the charts
- Has impressive poise and composure with the puck, reminds me a bit of Quinn Hughes in that respect
- Has the high-end offensive instincts, puck skills and playmaking abilities of a forward
- Can quarterback a PP and can walk the line, ala Cale Makar
- He’s going to give penalty killers absolute fits because his elusiveness, deception and ability to create different passing/shooting lanes

Cons:
- Battle level, intensity and engagement in the defensive zone could stand to be higher, definitely more of an offensive minded defenseman
- Physicality is not his game, seems to shy away from it, will need to bulk up to withstand pounding he’ll take from NHL forwards


Can’t say too much yet about his gap control, pinches, retrievals and one on one defense, will definitely need more viewings of him. Think the flames picked him for his high end skating and puck skills. I suspect they’ll look to pair him up with a hard nosed stay at home defenseman and let him play rover from time to time.

Overall, I like the pick up. Think it’s important for the Flames to find a dynamic player like this who has game breaking talent because the current team gave up a lot of goals this past season trying to press for offense because it didn’t come natural to them.

[D as in David]

If physicality is one of his current weaknesses maybe he'll gain that above-average physical strength so many Korean men seem to have.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by camm13

This was a great watch. Welcome to the Flames, Parekh Family!

They do seem like a great family.

One small thing that kind of stood out to me yesterday was how humble his dad sounded when being interviewed. Rather than go right into talking about themselves, he congratulated the other players being drafted that day. He came off as a really nice person.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

I wish we had a really good former player as a d coach. Playfair was that kinda guy .

Don't forget Michael Stone is a player development coach with the Flames now too.

[Oil Stain]

This guy has a very real chance at becoming the best Half Korean/Half Indian player in NHL history.

Will be interesting to see the story unfold.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

This guy has a very real chance at becoming the best Half Korean/Half Indian player in NHL history.

Better than Chandrashekhar Kim of the Banff Fighting Squirrels?

I dunno, we'll have to see about that.

[Meers]

Good skater. Like the pick.

[Johnny Makarov]

Can't wait to see inZayne Parekh in camp!