Calgary Flames Draft Zayne Parekh 9th Overall – Hockey Writers – Calgary Flames

With the 9th pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Flames selected Zayne Parekh from the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

About Zayne Parekh

Zayne Parekh has had an incredibly productive offensive season, especially for a draft-worthy defender. He scored 33 goals and had 63 assists, scoring 96 points in 66 games for the Saginaw Spirit. Parekh led all OHL defensemen in both goals and points, making him a key player for Saginaw, which finished with the league’s second-most points. In addition, he posted two goals and seven points in seven OHL playoff games. He also excelled at the international level, representing Team Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last summer, where he collected three assists in five tournament games and helped Canada to a gold medal.

Related: THW’s 2024 Draft Live Tracker

Parekh is one of the most creative defenders in the squad and has excellent playmaking skills. Achieving the kind of offensive numbers and breaking records like he did this season takes special talent and creativity. He really is like a wizard in the offensive zone. His quick hands and feet work together seamlessly. His quickness and speed from point to point is astounding, and when you add his quick hands to the mix, OHL defensemen find it nearly impossible to contain him. He always finds a way to escape pressure and is able to move the puck up the middle of the ice after the catch. Even off the puck, his awareness is outstanding. He anticipates very well in the offensive zone, often disrupting attempts to clear or block shops to maintain pressure. In simple words, he is a relentless attacking player.

Excerpt from THW’s profile

“His attacking play is the starting point of Parekh’s arsenal. He may have the softest hands and the best of any linebacker in this year’s class, which made his passing through the neutral zone on the run look easy. His tenacity also helped when he made quick moves in the attacking zone to make escape type moves when he was pressed to give himself more space to play in the area. His strong, smooth skating has also contributed to his solid play in the neutral zone. “

“While Parekh’s offensive play and puck handling have been the highlights of his game, his defensive play has been lacking at times. He seems to lack a sense of urgency to make plays at the end of the ice and his sloppy play has plagued him a few times this season. Even if his smooth skating has been good for him, and at times, it has been doubtful, causing turns and chases from his opponents. Overall, Parekh is able to keep opponents on the defensive due to his good closing speed and hard work while defending. “

“He has quarterbacked the Spirit’s top power play unit, sitting atop the OHL rankings while showing off his strong passing and playmaking skills. He didn’t shy away from shooting the puck, though, allowing his strong shot to be on full display. He also took part in all situations in the group, becoming one of its top assassins.”

A full player profile can be found here.

How This Affects the Fire System?

The Flames appear to have a lot of talent up front in regards to their expected jump-starting team. However, they lack a high-octane, puck-moving defender like Parekh who fits the description of the type of player they need in their system. Every team needs to have one and now the Flames have a dynamic player with the best offensive mind from the back. They have solid defenders with size, but lack the quickness, awareness and ability to find open lanes like Parekh. His defensive game needs work, but he’s sure to do a lot of damage over the course of many seasons.