« Just like going to Singapore Sam’s after an awesome night at Coconut Joe’s back in the 80s, the good vibes Flames fans are feeling after the draft has continued this week as focus shifts to development camp.
But while everybody is excited about Zayne, let’s not go in-zayne.
Basking in the afterglow of the most exciting draft in recent memory for this organization, it’s easy for the die-hard and success-starved supporters of this team to get fired up about what the future could look like.
And hey, maybe, just maybe, that future will begin in just over three months when Calgary opens the 2024-25 NHL regular season in Vancouver.
Igniting this raging wildfire of positivity that’s been burning out of control across Flames nation since Friday was the first of two first round picks made by GM Craig Conroy that night — Saginaw defenceman Zayne Parekh.
To find the dynamic 18-year-old on the OHL scoring list, you have to look up… way up. His 96 pts (33 g, 63 a) in 66 gm not only topped all of that league’s blueliners, but his 1.45 points/game was the most by a draft-eligible d-man in a decade and a half.
Parekh is elite offensively and it has everyone wondering two things: 1. What does that look like at the NHL level? 2. How soon can we see it?
But wait, there’s (one) more.
Second to Parekh on the D scoring ledger was Hunter Brzustewicz, the 2023 third-round pick by Vancouver, who was acquired in the Elias Lindholm trade. His 92 pts (13 g, 79 a) in 67 gm while playing for Kitchener wasn’t too shabby either.
This Thursday, both will take to the ice at WinSport giving fans in Calgary their first up-close look at the organization’s shiny new high octane defensive duo.
Be excited. Be optimistic. But also, be realistic.
Not to be the porcupine at the balloon party, to quote a chortling Bob Hartley, but both of these young men are still a ways away.
I’ve seen some fans suggest Parekh should get his nine NHL games before the club decides whether or not to send him back to junior.
Have you looked at the schedule?!
In Vancouver. In Edmonton. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, the Hurricanes, and the Jets visit the Saddledome. The ninth game is in Vegas.
Fans have been pleading for the team to rebuild. Conroy has obliged, yet here in step 1 of many, now some want to fast-track the club’s top prospect to the NHL?
Love the enthusiasm. But let’s pump the brakes on the timeline.
SomeJerkOddball
Is there any incentive to bump Parekh up to the AHL versus having him play his 19 year old season in the OHL?
b-side61
I’m looking forward to Zayney times in a few years.
Mr_Fabs
I mean, he just might be good enough to earn those 9 games.
Some guys are just that good. I don’t think it should be be expected at all but if he is, atleast give him the cup of coffee
Kobasew19
Love it. Unrelated, what does Brzustewicz have on his skates in the pic?
The_Gaudfather
If he stays up to start the year, the Flames don’t have to play him in every of the first 9 games. They could spread it out over any number of games.
Additionally, giving young players, especially Dmen, a taste of NHL action is becoming a much more normal part of their development curves. Many recent picks have skipped the AHL all together.
To name a few:
Brock Faber (21) played 0 AHL games.
Luke Hughes (20) played 0 AHL games.
Kevin Korchinski (20) played 0 AHL games.
Pavel Mintyukov (20) played 0 AHL games.
___
This is not to say every young defender can go directly into the NHL, Simon Nemec spent his 19 y/o season in the AHL, but this season only played 13 games in Utica. David Jiricek was in a similar position last year, and played the majority of his games in the NHL this year.
Again, this is not to say Parehk has to make the NHL this year, but considering his skill and the Flames ability to shelter him with Andersson and Weegar, it isn’t in-Zayne to think he could be a full-time Flame next season(25-26).
Ultimately, the Flames should allow Parehk to show them when he’s ready, but giving him some amount of NHL time should be seen as an important part of his development.
Armchair-Gm-Podcast
I’m looking forward to both of these kids. Give them a couple years before giving them any serious expectations when it comes to pro hockey , but I believe when they get the chance and some experience both guys will be great.
OG-DirtNasty
The last thing they need to do is rush this kid. We won’t be competitive for a few years yet, let him slow cook awhile
GovernmentHunting016
Reading the title here gave me some here we go again vibes and I was expecting some controversy that only comes out after the draft like that mitch miller kid. Very happy to see its a positive tweet and not some covered up sexual assault story like the title seemed like
The-Reddit-Giraffe
I agree with this assessment. I think he’ll take a year to further develop for sure but he could earn a game or two this season preferably at the end of the year
If you look at how other elite defensemen were developed it follows a similar path
Heiskanen played a full year not in the NHL before he cracked the roster and played 82 games the next year as a rookie
Makar played two full seasons at college and then came into the playoffs after those seasons were complete
Quinn Hughes went back to college but played 5 games at the end of the college year before returning to play a full season the next year
jaicecreambar
Shame he can’t go straight into the AHL or college. Can’t imagine the O has much to offer him anymore.
Watching his highlights, he moves with the puck like Makar, Hughes, Karlsson, !Fox, etc. Exciting player. Still would have preferred Buium, but I’m curious if the Flames and other teams viewed him as a « flight risk ». The steal of the draft IMO.
As an aside, I wonder where Parekh gets drafted if he was two inches taller. All his comparables are 6’0 or shorter, interestingly. Makar added an inch since the Combine, would be great if Parekh could too.
12 Comments
« Just like going to Singapore Sam’s after an awesome night at Coconut Joe’s back in the 80s, the good vibes Flames fans are feeling after the draft has continued this week as focus shifts to development camp.
But while everybody is excited about Zayne, let’s not go in-zayne.
Basking in the afterglow of the most exciting draft in recent memory for this organization, it’s easy for the die-hard and success-starved supporters of this team to get fired up about what the future could look like.
And hey, maybe, just maybe, that future will begin in just over three months when Calgary opens the 2024-25 NHL regular season in Vancouver.
Igniting this raging wildfire of positivity that’s been burning out of control across Flames nation since Friday was the first of two first round picks made by GM Craig Conroy that night — Saginaw defenceman Zayne Parekh.
To find the dynamic 18-year-old on the OHL scoring list, you have to look up… way up. His 96 pts (33 g, 63 a) in 66 gm not only topped all of that league’s blueliners, but his 1.45 points/game was the most by a draft-eligible d-man in a decade and a half.
Parekh is elite offensively and it has everyone wondering two things: 1. What does that look like at the NHL level? 2. How soon can we see it?
But wait, there’s (one) more.
Second to Parekh on the D scoring ledger was Hunter Brzustewicz, the 2023 third-round pick by Vancouver, who was acquired in the Elias Lindholm trade. His 92 pts (13 g, 79 a) in 67 gm while playing for Kitchener wasn’t too shabby either.
This Thursday, both will take to the ice at WinSport giving fans in Calgary their first up-close look at the organization’s shiny new high octane defensive duo.
Be excited. Be optimistic. But also, be realistic.
Not to be the porcupine at the balloon party, to quote a chortling Bob Hartley, but both of these young men are still a ways away.
I’ve seen some fans suggest Parekh should get his nine NHL games before the club decides whether or not to send him back to junior.
Have you looked at the schedule?!
In Vancouver. In Edmonton. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, the Hurricanes, and the Jets visit the Saddledome. The ninth game is in Vegas.
Fans have been pleading for the team to rebuild. Conroy has obliged, yet here in step 1 of many, now some want to fast-track the club’s top prospect to the NHL?
Love the enthusiasm. But let’s pump the brakes on the timeline.
Is there any incentive to bump Parekh up to the AHL versus having him play his 19 year old season in the OHL?
I’m looking forward to Zayney times in a few years.
I mean, he just might be good enough to earn those 9 games.
Some guys are just that good. I don’t think it should be be expected at all but if he is, atleast give him the cup of coffee
Love it. Unrelated, what does Brzustewicz have on his skates in the pic?
If he stays up to start the year, the Flames don’t have to play him in every of the first 9 games. They could spread it out over any number of games.
Additionally, giving young players, especially Dmen, a taste of NHL action is becoming a much more normal part of their development curves. Many recent picks have skipped the AHL all together.
To name a few:
Brock Faber (21) played 0 AHL games.
Luke Hughes (20) played 0 AHL games.
Kevin Korchinski (20) played 0 AHL games.
Pavel Mintyukov (20) played 0 AHL games.
___
This is not to say every young defender can go directly into the NHL, Simon Nemec spent his 19 y/o season in the AHL, but this season only played 13 games in Utica. David Jiricek was in a similar position last year, and played the majority of his games in the NHL this year.
Again, this is not to say Parehk has to make the NHL this year, but considering his skill and the Flames ability to shelter him with Andersson and Weegar, it isn’t in-Zayne to think he could be a full-time Flame next season(25-26).
Ultimately, the Flames should allow Parehk to show them when he’s ready, but giving him some amount of NHL time should be seen as an important part of his development.
I’m looking forward to both of these kids. Give them a couple years before giving them any serious expectations when it comes to pro hockey , but I believe when they get the chance and some experience both guys will be great.
The last thing they need to do is rush this kid. We won’t be competitive for a few years yet, let him slow cook awhile
Reading the title here gave me some here we go again vibes and I was expecting some controversy that only comes out after the draft like that mitch miller kid. Very happy to see its a positive tweet and not some covered up sexual assault story like the title seemed like
I agree with this assessment. I think he’ll take a year to further develop for sure but he could earn a game or two this season preferably at the end of the year
If you look at how other elite defensemen were developed it follows a similar path
Heiskanen played a full year not in the NHL before he cracked the roster and played 82 games the next year as a rookie
Makar played two full seasons at college and then came into the playoffs after those seasons were complete
Quinn Hughes went back to college but played 5 games at the end of the college year before returning to play a full season the next year
Shame he can’t go straight into the AHL or college. Can’t imagine the O has much to offer him anymore.
Watching his highlights, he moves with the puck like Makar, Hughes, Karlsson, !Fox, etc. Exciting player. Still would have preferred Buium, but I’m curious if the Flames and other teams viewed him as a « flight risk ». The steal of the draft IMO.
As an aside, I wonder where Parekh gets drafted if he was two inches taller. All his comparables are 6’0 or shorter, interestingly. Makar added an inch since the Combine, would be great if Parekh could too.
I did always love some Singapore Sams….