Parekh a steal as first of two first round picks for Flames at the 2024 draft

Zayne Parekh was expected to be a top-5 selection at the NHL Draft. So when the gifted defenceman was still available when they hit the stage at spot nine, the Calgary Flames pounced.

For the Flames, it was a best-player-available — or Tij Iginla — approach. With a couple of unexpected early calls off the draft board and Iginla’s selection as the Utah Hockey Club’s first ever draft pick, Parekh was a gift just inside the top 10.

The Flames had two big needs coming into the draft because of major departures last season. They lost Elias Lindholm at centre, which was already a position of weakness for the franchise. They’ve moved Yegor Sharangovich to the middle and may also experiment with both or either of Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil there this season.

On defence, the Flames lost Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin and Nikita Zadorov (yes, half their top six blueliners) to in-season swaps.

Parekh is critical to the development pool of rearguards and jumps right up to the top of the list with elite potential. His character has been complimented, as has his intelligence. In fact, the 18-year-old accelerated his high school program to graduate at the age of 16 and has been able to focus solely on hockey the past couple of seasons. 

This past year, he won the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit and was named the Max Kaminsky Trophy winner as the league's defenceman of the year. He led all OHL defensemen in goals (33) and points (96) in 66 games. It was the most points by an OHL defenseman since Ryan Ellis had 101 points (24 goals, 77 assists) in 2010-11.

In his first OHL season, Parekh set the league record for goals by a 16-year-old defenceman by scoring 21 times in 50 games.

The only other Flames defence prospects with the kind of offensive flair shown by Parekh are Hunter Brzustewicz and Jeremie Poirier.

At 6-foot and 179 pounds, Parekh needs to add some strength. At the recent development camp in Calgary, the new addition showed well in drills and the scrimmage. His offensive skills are obvious. The team will work on developing his strength, and encourage growth in playing without the puck.

Parekh signed his three-year, entry-level contract on July 5 but it’s unlikely the Flames will rush him into the lineup in the fall — unless he impresses them so much that they can’t send him back to junior.

That could happen sooner than later as the Flames continue to rebuild and give every opportunity to young players looking to crack the lineup permanently.

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