Flames Need to Break up Middleton & Parekh Pairing

Zayne Parekh has not gotten off to the start everyone expected from the offensive-minded defenseman, playing in his second professional season. 

Parekh is known for his offensive prowess, edge work and elite vision, which leaves fans on the edge of their seats as out-of-this-world passes are the norm for the 20-year-old. There have been small flashes of this skill set, but as he continues to find his footing in the NHL, he is not solely to blame for his slow start.

Flames head coach Ryan Huska, whose job security grows less secure as the days pass, has made many questionable lineup decisions so far this season, including playing Parekh with Jake Middleton for most of the season on the third pairing.

Middleton Harming Parekh Development

While watching the two play together, it is clear one is steps behind the other and not playing to the level needed to aid in the development of a supposed future franchise player. Middleton joined the Flames through the Blake Coleman trade as the Minnesota Wild were looking to dump salary, and Calgary made a perfect trading partner considering their current rebuild status. 

Through the first five games, Middleton remains without a point and has a minus-5 rating. While he has had a respectable career as a defensively-sound depth piece who is able to provide stability and a physical presence, his underlying stats show he is better on the bench than on the ice. 

Parekh is still extremely young, with only 43-career NHL games, so mistakes and lapses in judgment are expected. Veterans such as Middleton are supposed to provide support for a developing player to take risks, knowing he can rely on his partner to cover. This simply hasn’t been the case for the pair, and it is putting even higher stress on Parekh as he cuts his teeth in the league. 

The Flames’ goal this season was never to snag a playoff spot or even come close, but the shocking start and lack of defensive structure are startling, especially when Middleton was supposed to bring depth and stability. 

Possible Lineup Changes

Although it’s frustrating for Flames fans, not all hope should be lost: this could open the door to plenty of opportunities. However, it all depends on how the coaching staff and management approach the situation. 

Throughout the preseason and training camp, 21-year-old Hunter Brzustewicz impressed, and it seemed like a real possibility he would make the opening night roster. Although he did not make it, he started with the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL) and has gotten off to a great start, recording one goal and two points through four games, along with a plus-1 rating. 

To get Brzustewicz to the team would require some roster management, but with the play Middleton has shown through the first five games, waivers are certainly a possibility. 

Parekh has spent the season so far playing on the right side, but when attacking and transitioning, the puck is often going to the left to create space, and his right-hand shot allows him to have the puck on the inside. Moving him up to play with Zach Whitecloud so he can play on the left side while having a more stable partner is an intriguing option at this point. Huska should welcome changes to the lineup like this rather than hoping his current defensive pairings eventually work out. 

If Parekh is moved up, dropping Yan Kuznetsov down to the third pair to play with Brzustewicz would be a solution, but would require Middleton to either hit waivers or be in the press box where he can still have a commanding veteran presence in the locker room. 

The Flames are off to a historically bad start where seemingly nothing is working and they have only had one or two truly good periods of hockey through five games. More changes are due to come, and so far the call-up of Jonathan Castagna and Aydar Suniev has paid off in the small sample size. It’s time for the Flames to dive deeper into their young prospect pool.