2026 IIHF World Junior Discussion

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

McKenna does not look great.

I have stated that my issue with mckenna is he may spend almost as much time digging pucks out of his own net than the opposition and nothing in the highlights changed that opinion thats for sure.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by traptor

Yeah that shorty was a pretty bad look on Parehk zero hustle to get back.




Offensively he looks good though.

But that’s the big problem. I watched Parekh in Penticton and I still see the same thing. Massive offensive potential but he will easily be the worst defensemen on the team defensively. If he doesn’t put on some muscle and get better on the defensive side of things I still don’t see him becoming a regular. He’s too much of a defensive liability. He’d basically be the flames version of bouchard.

[Aarongavey]

I feel like if they are going to get anything out of McKenna they need to play him with some guys who are willing to go to the net, get in the dirty areas. He very much plays a perimeter game, he does not go to the tough areas so someone else will have to do that at 5 on 5 for the guy.

[traptor]

If that's the effort you can expect then yeah it'll be a big problem forsure, unless he can get a PPG dman.


Its one thing to get beat, It happens, but you have to hustle


And that wasn't one of those "his skating is so effortless it looks lazy", he had 0 compete to get back, he's faster then that.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I feel like if they are going to get anything out of McKenna they need to play him with some guys who are willing to go to the net, get in the dirty areas. He very much plays a perimeter game, he does not go to the tough areas so someone else will have to do that at 5 on 5 for the guy.

It appears from what little I've seen that Stenberg is a player who does go to the tough areas. These two players have dissimilar play styles, which complicates their valuation.

[Royle9]

McKenna and Martone have put up huge point totals together at the U18’s
They need a center who’s going to drive the net and get in the corners to get puck control.

I’d argue Reschny would look good as he compliments their play styles.

[CFO]

Parekh isn't even close to being an nhl regular. Guy needs an ego check.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CFO

Parekh isn't even close to being an nhl regular. Guy needs an ego check.

lol clueless post

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I feel like if they are going to get anything out of McKenna they need to play him with some guys who are willing to go to the net, get in the dirty areas. He very much plays a perimeter game, he does not go to the tough areas so someone else will have to do that at 5 on 5 for the guy.

And Misa is also mostly a perimeter guy -they seem to both want to go the same ares, and neither is going to the middle of the ice.

Originally Posted by Royle9

McKenna and Martone have put up huge point totals together at the U18’s
They need a center who’s going to drive the net and get in the corners to get puck control.

I’d argue Reschny would look good as he compliments their play styles.

Obviously, Flames fans would love to see Reschny with McKenna for selfish reasons, but I absolutely agree that Reschny would be a better C for him than Misa is.

McKenna - Reschny - Martone

and that leaves Misa to create a 2nd line that is an offensive threat

Iginla - Misa - Hage

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by CFO

Parekh isn't even close to being an nhl regular. Guy needs an ego check.

I thought he got one after last years training camp. But I see some of the same things lingering. I obviously don’t know him. But he does seem like he needs to start taking things a little more seriously. It does seem like his ego was dialed back though.

He’s still super young. But he needs to get in the gym and he needs to play better defensively. Hopefully someone takes him under their wing and shows him the way.

It’s a massive disservice to him that he couldn’t play this year in the AHL. That’s what that league is for. Whatever rule stopped him from playing there needs to be changed.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by CFO

Parekh isn't even close to being an nhl regular. Guy needs an ego check.

We should probably stop giving him 23 minutes a night and first powerplay every single game of the year then.

[dino7c]

Lol some ridiculous posts...guy put a pass into his skates, he tried to choke up and it bounced over his stick. An exhibition game and his second game in months.

The likely #1 overall scored on his own net, #### happens. People want young skilled players and then when they dont play like NHL vets they trash them.

[saillias]

Parekh had been on the ice for that PP for 1:40 by the time that play happened. he was gassed. That said his straight line foot speed clearly isnt that great

[Rick M.]

When is Canada’s next exhibition game?

[Enoch Root]

The way people are dismissing Parekh here, after two exhibition games that are the first games he's played in weeks, is just laughable.

I'll say it again: Canadian fans are WAY too impatient. And way too critical.

Quinn Hughes was just as bad defensively, and just as soft and seemingly lackadaisical. He figured it out. Parekh will too. And he'll get stronger.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Someone just needs to show him how much fun Bouchard gets made fun of around the league.


That effort on the turnover was hard to watch as a Flames' fan. Just no effort. However, at least he showed some emotion on the bench after the fact. This gives me hope that he will end up closer to Hughes and Makar than Bouchard and Karlsson.


Reschny played his usual mature game. Hopefully he will add some scoring when the tournament kicks-off. He really doesn't cheat the game.


McKenna had a bad game. You can see how dynamic he is, however. He oozes talent out there. That was some bad luck with that own-goal - I don't think I have ever seen anything like it. You see it happening off of a blind pass-back in the other zone, or an unlucky bounce off the boards. Then he finishes the game with that turnover too. Not a memorable birthday, that's for sure. Still, the talent is really evident.


I find it hard to pick between Stenberg and McKenna. I think McKenna is much more talented. Stenberg is much more of a 'man' now, with great instincts and also a high level of skill - a really good safe package. He is definitely much further ahead of McKenna physically. I think McKenna is more talented. Too early too call still.


McKenna reminds me a little of Tanguay - a playmaking LW that makes high-level passes out of nowhere, but McKenna is a better skater and shoots more. More dynamic than Tanguay, obviously, but out of all the former flames, that's who he reminds me of the most.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

When is Canada’s next exhibition game?

Tuesday 6 pm vs Denmark
Not sure it is being broadcast though, dont see it listed on TSN

[Rhett44]

Last year Parekh was the next Bobby Orr and now he is a bust.

I don't think it is fair to judge him off one game. Yes, he was bad but so were a lot of his teammates. He does need to bulk up though.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Someone just needs to show him how much fun Bouchard gets made fun of around the league.


That effort on the turnover was hard to watch as a Flames' fan. Just no effort. However, at least he showed some emotion on the bench after the fact. This gives me hope that he will end up closer to Hughes and Makar than Bouchard and Karlsson.


Reschny played his usual mature game. Hopefully he will add some scoring when the tournament kicks-off. He really doesn't cheat the game.


McKenna had a bad game. You can see how dynamic he is, however. He oozes talent out there. That was some bad luck with that own-goal - I don't think I have ever seen anything like it. You see it happening off of a blind pass-back in the other zone, or an unlucky bounce off the boards. Then he finishes the game with that turnover too. Not a memorable birthday, that's for sure. Still, the talent is really evident.


I find it hard to pick between Stenberg and McKenna. I think McKenna is much more talented. Stenberg is much more of a 'man' now, with great instincts and also a high level of skill - a really good safe package. He is definitely much further ahead of McKenna physically. I think McKenna is more talented. Too early too call still.


McKenna reminds me a little of Tanguay - a playmaking LW that makes high-level passes out of nowhere, but McKenna is a better skater and shoots more. More dynamic than Tanguay, obviously, but out of all the former flames, that's who he reminds me of the most.

To the first bold, I am always leery of picking someone that is dominating because they are more physically mature - once they're men, that advantage is gone, and I want the one that is more talented.

To the 2nd bold, he is more like Patrick Kane.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The way people are dismissing Parekh here, after two exhibition games that are the first games he's played in weeks, is just laughable.

I'll say it again: Canadian fans are WAY too impatient. And way too critical.

Quinn Hughes was just as bad defensively, and just as soft and seemingly lackadaisical. He figured it out. Parekh will too. And he'll get stronger.

It’s more than 2 exhibition games. It’s the first couple of months on the Flames, last years traing camp and the young stars tourney.

He’s an awesome offence generator. As in there’s no one else like him in the organization. Flip side to that is he’s the worst defender in the organization and he’s probably the physically weakest as well.

Your not going to get the benifit of his strengths if they don’t help him get bigger and stronger (which will happen over time) and get his defensive capabilities to an acceptable level. That’s probably the trickier one.