🚨 The Zayne Parekh show has arrived 🚨

[Johnny Makarov]

WTF? So when he was zipping around the King's pylons in the last game he was playing injured?

I see 60 goals 130 points for him this year.

[Finger Cookin]

Hope he gets good advice and actually takes measures that allow him to heal, instead of dealing with nagging injuries the Monahan way.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Hope he gets good advice and actually takes measures that allow him to heal, instead of dealing with nagging injuries the Monahan way.

Amen to that!

[SportsJunky]

There was a Zayne and Basha sighting at Serenity GC today.

[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."

[cam_calderon]

He could have a great camp but I'd still be pretty worried about what NHL forwards will do to him in his first season in the show. He clearly has the hands to make an offensive impact, but he could be a liability if we don't manage his development properly.

[Finger Cookin]

These are the years for him to learn, when it doesn't matter if he's a defensive liability.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

These are the years for him to learn, when it doesn't matter if he's a defensive liability.

Bang on. The team isn't a contender, it does not matter if he sucks at defending.

He was drafted for what he can do in the offensive zone with the puck. He isn't going to become a better offensive player by scoring 100 points for the third year in a row in the OHL, and he won't learn to defend NHL talent by playing in the OHL either.

Put him on the bottom pair to start, limit his 5v5 ice time and let him cook on the power play. Let him make defensive mistakes, he doesn't turn 20 until next year. The focus should be on putting him in positions to succeed early and building his game out from there.

[Andrew]

i would ryan huska knows a bit more than most coaches about developing d. including posters on the board. I trust his judgement

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

These are the years for him to learn, when it doesn't matter if he's a defensive liability.

The NHL isnt a development league. If he isnt ready he isnt ready. There is no hurry to have him in the NHL. Give him a shot. But there should be a low threshold to sending him back. Rushing prospects is the best way to hurt their development.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

He could have a great camp but I'd still be pretty worried about what NHL forwards will do to him in his first season in the show. He clearly has the hands to make an offensive impact, but he could be a liability if we don't manage his development properly.

I don’t see any reason to worry about Parekh over any other first year player.

Players have to play their first season eventually or they’ll never play their second, and they’re going to face the same thing regardless.

Originally Posted by kehatch

The NHL isnt a development league. If he isnt ready he isnt ready. There is no hurry to have him in the NHL. Give him a shot. But there should be a low threshold to sending him back. Rushing prospects is the best way to hurt their development.

Playing a potential star in their D+2 season who had a good but brief showing already is hardly rushing him.

Plus, “ready” is pretty subjective. He is going to continue to develop in the NHL and make a bunch of mistakes and be a bit of a liability the first couple years regardless. I think the comment is more about fans not eating him alive when he isn’t perfect

[Mathgod]

Exactly. Give him sheltered minutes 5 on 5. Any defensive liability he might be, will likely be made up for by his offensive prowess and the boost this team very much needs on the powerplay.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I don’t see any reason to worry about Parekh over any other first year player.

Playing a potential star in their D+2 season who had a good but brief showing already is hardly rushing him.

It if he isn't ready. I was responding to a comment that inferred he could learn how to play proper D at the NHL level.

There are only 6 players from the 2023 draft that have played more then their 9 games. There is no rush to put Parekh in the NHL full time if he doesn't show he belongs there during his audition.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Exactly. Give him sheltered minutes 5 on 5. Any defensive liability he might be, will likely be made up for by his offensive prowess and the boost this team very much needs on the powerplay.

Why would you want to play your top prospect with limited minutes just to get him to the NHL next season? Just to burn a contract year early?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Why would you want to play your top prospect with limited minutes just to get him to the NHL next season? Just to burn a contract year early?

There isn’t much more for him to learn in junior
It would be a wasted year

[dammage79]

No way Parekh should go back to junior. What else can he do there? He's done it all. And he's done it all better than anybody has done it before. At this point it's likely lead to developmental stagnation. Nope, it's the deep end for him, sink or swim. Except I thoroughly believe this kids gonna be a metaphorical Olympic swimmer out of the gates.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

There was a Zayne and Basha sighting at Serenity GC today.

Basha is a good golfer, went with him to Stewart creek 4 years ago. His dad brought the pro shop 3 buckets of fried chicken and it was basically free to golf.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

There isn’t much more for him to learn in junior
It would be a wasted year

He still has things to learn in junior. More importantly, playing another year in junior is not going to hurt his development.

I am not saying he shouldn't or won't make the NHL. But IF HE IS NOT READY he shouldn't and won't.

I don't know why anyone would want us to channel our inner Edmonton and rush a prospect to the NHL before they are ready.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Well this is where the new rules will help because the AHL would be an option.
But I guess we can agree to disagree because I don't think he has things to learn in junior, and it would be a wasted year. I think it's far better to give him sheltered minutes, and if things are rocky, release him for the WJCs. Then maybe you send him back to the OHL after that.

I think he's good enough now for the NHL though with some management of his match-ups and ice time.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't see any way that Parekh gets sent back to junior. I definitely see him being released to the WJCs, but only if he is struggling. I think if he is doing well by that time, the Flames don't release him.