From The Athletic (Drance)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/576...ung-stars-nhl/
Zayne Parekh, RD, Calgary Flames
Zayne Parekh is the headliner on a deep, young Calgary blue line.
A top 10 pick at the 2024 NHL Draft, Parekh was a key offensive and transitional driver for the Memorial Cup-winning Saginaw Spirit this past season. His production in his draft year jumps off of the page, just as his skill set and his preternatural confidence jump off of the ice. This is a player who has all of the tools to be a future star, and a lot of “it” factor to burn as well.
The Flames blue line may emerge as one of the biggest stories of the tournament. In addition to Parekh, the Flames are bringing 2024 third-round pick Henry Mews and impressive 2023 second-round pick Etienne Morin as well as 2023 third-round pick Hunter Brzustewicz and 2021 second-round pick Artem Grushnikov, who the club acquired in various deadline deals last spring. It’s an incredibly impressive group, but it’s also a very young group.
Prospect tournaments are always informative, but the hockey itself can be a bit unstructured and challenging to evaluate. There’s also often an age and experience gap between teams, one that can prove decisive in determining how the games at this tournament unfold.
This Calgary side is so loaded with younger, promising NHL prospects that they’re guaranteed to be exciting to watch, but could struggle to win games in Penticton given the composition of the other rosters attending the Young Stars tournament this year. If Parekh and company can hold their own — or even stand out and run play — that would be something for Flames fans to get excited about.
Samuel Honzek, LW, Calgary Flames
Samuel Honzek is a polished, big-bodied winger with excellent wheels and a level of nastiness in his game that will likely make him a real handful at the NHL level down the line. He’s a good bet to be an NHL contributor who provides significant physical value for many years to come.
The 16th pick at the 2023 draft, however, has yet to have that breakout offensive season. And there are some questions among amateur evaluators about whether that offensive element exists in his game at all.
For players with Honzek’s profile, the Penticton Young Stars tournament can provide either a real challenge or a real opportunity.
Players like Honzek often look better in a more structured environment where their two-way intelligence and imposing physical game can allow them to make an impact naturally. In a rookie tournament-type environment, sometimes it’s the more aggressive offensive players that take over since they’re more willing to roll the dice and seize the opportunity as opposed to permitting the game to come to them.
It’s worth watching Honzek play at this tournament with that dynamic in mind. If he can find a way to be an assertive attacking presence in Penticton, that will augur well for his ability to break out a bit more offensively in his draft-plus-two campaign.
