Calgary Flames fans weren’t the only ones gushing over the debut of Zayne Parekh on Thursday night. The Flames wound up falling short on making the playoffs, being officially eliminated from contention on Tuesday evening. That was a huge blow to the fan base who had rallied behind this resilient group, though the silver lining was that four prospects were able to make their NHL debut versus the Los Angeles Kings in their final game of the season.
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Parekh, along with Aydar Suniev, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Sam Morton, were all able to suit up in Game 82. It was quite the showing, as both Parekh and Morton were able to find the back of the net in what was a 5-1 victory over the Kings. While all four mentioned have legitimate NHL potential, however, it was Parekh who had everybody tuning in to what was otherwise a meaningless game.
The 2024 ninth-overall pick not only scored a goal on a beautiful deflection in the third period, but also had his offensive instincts on display all night. He had several great outlet passes and showed an ability to get pucks on net through traffic from the point. Perhaps best of all, however, was his skating ability, which dazzled not only fans, but some current and former NHLers, as well.
Mark Messier Loving Parekh’s Play
One former player in particular who couldn’t get over the debut of Parekh was Edmonton Oilers legend Mark Messier. The 64-year-old, who now serves as an analyst for ESPN, couldn’t stop raving about the young Flames prospect. Not only did he think he had a fantastic debut, but it seems as though he believes the 19-year-old has true superstar potential.
“Beautiful skater. Some players just have the ‘it’ factor,” Messier said following the game. “I couldn’t take my eyes off of him … Keep an eye out for him. Wow. What a player.”
This is extremely high praise from any former NHL player, let alone one who sits third all-time in NHL scoring with 1,887 points. Messier, who won five Stanley Cups with the Oilers and a sixth with the New York Rangers, played with some truly elite talent throughout his lengthy career, and clearly has an eye for spotting star-quality players. The fact that he is this high on Parekh shows just how high the young defenceman’s potential is.
Parekh Likely to Crack Flames Roster
Though there was some hope that the Flames would keep Parekh on their blue line to begin the 2024-25 season, they likely made the right call in sending him back to junior. It’s important to give a top-end prospect like this the proper time to develop, and he was able to do just that with the Saginaw Spirit.
After scoring 33 goals and 96 points through 66 games in his draft-eligible season, Parekh followed that up with an even better 33 goals and 107 points in 61 games this season. He continued that domination into the playoffs, where he had two goals and nine points in just five outings.
Based on his stats, Parekh has absolutely nothing left to prove in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He absolutely dominated this season, and sending him back for another season of junior hockey would be hindering his development. Fans should fully expect him to get a true shot at cracking the NHL lineup next season.
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If Parekh is unable to make the Flames, there is a chance he goes the college hockey route. He is too young to play next season in the American Hockey League (AHL), and as mentioned, is simply too good to play another year in the OHL.
Flames Fans Should Be Very Excited
Though some fans were upset over the fact the Flames won’t have a high first-round pick in the upcoming draft, a prospect like Parekh is a good reminder as to just how bright the future is. This organization appears to not only have a superstar-in-the-making between the pipes in Dustin Wolf, but a future number-one blue liner in Parekh. Once they are able to find a legitimate number-one centreman, they should be able to be competing for Stanley Cups in the not-so-distant future.
