Argue with a wall. This kid is wildly talented and has a long future in the league.
Part of my gut wanted to move him higher, but I told myself to keep it measured. And honestly, I think he would’ve been an excellent addition for the at-the-time Utah Hockey Club, now Utah Mammoth. Zayne Parekh is the kind of defenseman who can take over a game. As I said in our 2024 first-round check-in, “Anyone calling Zayne Parekh’s success thus far ‘unprecedented’ hasn’t been watching him for very long.”
The Calgary Flames’ coaching staff is taking the slow-and-steady route with his development, and I don’t disagree with it (sometimes I really hate that approach!). Parekh has excellent instincts, but having excellent instincts means he always wants to jump into the rush and attempt plays that other guys on the ice might not even be able to conceive of.
Pacing him as he adjusts to coming up against NHL players who are larger and stronger than he is, and who have been playing at NHL speeds for much longer, means that once he adapts, he’s more likely to be able to do all of those things that are hallmarks of his game consistently.