[GDT] Flames @ Oilers. Oilers @ Flames 6pm MT

[Tbull8]

His passing is so sharp too. You could see a couple of the vets be a bit surprised when he snapped it onto their tape. Give it some time and they'll be expecting it

[Lewis_D]

I'd say Parekh's performance was the opposite of how he described it in his post game interview - some good, some bad, mostly good.


He'll make some mistakes here and there which is expected IMO, but it's not like he's not big or strong enough. I think there's just an adaptation period of not having that extra second or two to make a play that he had in junior.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

His passing is so sharp too. You could see a couple of the vets be a bit surprised when he snapped it onto their tape. Give it some time and they'll be expecting it

Exactly this! Noticed Backlund being caught almost off guard. Kind of funny to see.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I wish they'd tell him to just play a simple game until he's settled in and then slowly ramp up the flash. He's trying to do too much off the hop.

I wish they'd let him do whatever the F he wants, even if he's -100 this year, as long as he shows progress to becoming a norris calibre defenseman.

[FanSince'01]

It's a great point that part of how well Parekh plays is also going to be dependent on his teammates learning his tendencies and just how skilled he is.

Since we lost Johnny, we haven't really had a player with the degree of skill Zayne has so it's going to take time for the rest of the team to start expecting these things, which will invariably make his game better.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I wish they'd let him do whatever the F he wants, even if he's -100 this year, as long as he shows progress to becoming a norris calibre defenseman.

Sure, to a point. You don't want young players keeping bad habits, no matter how talented some players are you can't get away with the same things you do in Junior compared to the NHL.

The coaching staff will have to keep him accountable and make sure he learns how to be a complete player.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I wish they'd tell him to just play a simple game until he's settled in and then slowly ramp up the flash. He's trying to do too much off the hop.

I think he might have been told some version of this. Huska keeps saying all he needs to focus on is making the team rather than being the team’s “saviour”.

I interpret that to mean that the flames coaching staff and management have likely set a “low” bar for Parekh to make the team relative to other players. Simply because Parekh’s only other option is to go back to junior for another year which the flames don’t want him to do.

So if he goes the entire preseason without a point but makes simple plays (pucks deep, pucks off the boards, etc.)… he makes the team. Obviously he would also make the team if he puts up a bunch of points and looks dynamic out there. But if he goes the entire preseason making risky plays that don’t pan out and is turning the puck over constantly and can’t defend well in his own end, it becomes more difficult to justify giving him a roster spot.

I think he showed some great flashes of his skill last night. Incredible passes through players and constantly wanting to make an impact out there. Was great to see - especially in a game where both teams had very little going in terms of creating chances. The coaches might see it another way though - they likely want him to add a function to his game to make the simple/safe play when it is the best play. It might take time but he is a smart player so I think he can do it. I think he does make the team in the end

[NegativeSpace]

It's preseason game #1. There are so many preseasons that good players looked terrible only to start the season on fire and vice versa. The point of preseason is get up to speed.

[Rick M.]

I watched a few Saginaw games last season. Parekh plays D like a rover. He needs a defensive partner who can cover for him.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I wish they'd let him do whatever the F he wants, even if he's -100 this year, as long as he shows progress to becoming a norris calibre defenseman.

do you really think that "letting him doing whatever he wants" is the path to that?

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm not worried about ZP. He is still early in his development, which doesn't end at the NHL. Most of the the time a defenseman coming from junior to the NHL is going to be somewhat of an adventure. It will take longer than just a training camp to sort it out.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Exactly this! Noticed Backlund being caught almost off guard. Kind of funny to see.

Yeah I remember that one as well.
Players are going to have to expect more creativity from a guy like him - including making passes that they may not see coming. Be ready.

He doesn't just pass pucks though. He snaps them over with pace. All the more reasons why his teammates need to be ready.

[dino7c]

there were much bigger "gaffs" than the couple ZP made last night anyway and he was likely the best player on the ice offensively (low bar I know)

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I watched a few Saginaw games last season. Parekh plays D like a rover. He needs a defensive partner who can cover for him.

You could see it last night - there was a few times where he was anticipating the breakout and moving up the ice almost in parallel with the wingers while not even carrying the puck. Not saying it’s a bad thing - just very unique for defencemen.

I think he will become a bit of a polarizing player during his development. There will be games/moments where his aggressive style of offence ends up costing the team. And there will also be times when that same aggressive style will end up being the play that wins games for the team. And often times, the difference could be a matter of inches. Pretty sure his fumble at the blue line in his first shift last night was simply the puck rolling on him during his deke that, had the puck not rolled, I think would have lead to him creating space to move up the wall and open up some passing lanes. But the puck did roll and it put him in a vulnerable spot and lead to a scoring chance for the oilers. That’s going to happen sometimes for a player like him.

It will be a fine line of encouraging him to try things and use his offensive instincts while also developing his defensive game to sometimes make the simple play. You don’t want to stifle the attributes that you drafted him for but you also can’t have an oilers-style player who only thinks the game in one way.

I remember when he was first drafted, he had an interesting response to a question about what type of player he is. Can’t remember his words exactly but he basically said that he told teams in interviews the style of player he is and if they didn’t want that, they should not draft him. Can anyone recall this response? Some might take it the wrong way for a young prospect to say that (and I bet a few teams did) but I think he was just being honest and he’s not wrong. It’s not to say he can’t improve parts of his defensive game - he already has and he is continuing to do so. But I think you have to encourage him to play his game and use that skillset (that you don’t have much of in other players) to make the team more dynamic.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Exactly this! Noticed Backlund being caught almost off guard. Kind of funny to see.

I remember this happening to players in Gaudreau’s first season. Constantly getting them pucks when they didn’t think he could.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I wish they'd let him do whatever the F he wants, even if he's -100 this year, as long as he shows progress to becoming a norris calibre defenseman.

Live dangerously if you wish. Get burned.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I remember this happening to players in Gaudreau’s first season. Constantly getting them pucks when they didn’t think he could.

Huberdeau first season as a Flame was like that as well.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I remember this happening to players in Gaudreau’s first season. Constantly getting them pucks when they didn’t think he could.

actually this is a really good comparison...watching last night he is doing things that are on another level skill wise, like things the best vets we have could never dream of pulling off.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I remember this happening to players in Gaudreau’s first season. Constantly getting them pucks when they didn’t think he could.

Originally Posted by dammage79

Huberdeau first season as a Flame was like that as well.

I'm pretty interested to see Parekh and Huberdeau play together. I assume because Parekh can think to make those passes, he can also anticipate a Huberdeau creative pass back to the point.

[D as in David]

I foresee Parekh and Coronato prospering well off each other.