It’s a move that could work out great for both the Calgary Flames, Team Canada and Zayne Parekh, too.
On Wednesday morning, Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported that the Flames are planning on loaning Parekh to the Canadian team for the IIHF World Junior Championship in December.
The news comes with the caveat that Parekh needs to be healthy. He’s currently listed as being out week-to-week with an upper-body injury that he suffered in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 7.
Could it be win-win-win for everybody involved? We think so. Here’s why:
For the Flames
The ninth-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft has struggled to adapt to life in the NHL this season and this will give him a chance to gain a little confidence back.
This was always going to be a tricky year for him. He led the CHL in scoring by a defenceman last season with 107 points and there was no reason to send him back to junior for another year.
But he was also too young to play in the AHL, which meant he needed to try to make the transition to pro hockey under the bright lights of the best league in the world with the Flames.
It hasn’t always gone smoothly, but this move buys the Flames a little time while getting Parekh valuable, high-pressure minutes that should hopefully help propel him into the back half of the season.
For Canada
The Canadian team at the IIHF World Junior Championship will be better with Parekh in it.
Last year’s team struggled to create offence when it mattered and a smooth-skating, puck-moving blueliner like Parekh definitely would have helped.
Again, no defenceman in the WHL, OHL or QMJHL put up more points than Parekh did last year.
He’ll surely be a shoo-in for a place on the Canadian power play and will bring NHL experience along with a proven ability to dominate when playing against guys his own age.
RelatedFor Parekh
Parekh understandably was disappointed to be omitted from last year’s roster at the world juniors, so this gives him the chance to fulfill a dream that every young Canadian hockey player has growing up.
The spotlight on Parekh has been bright ever since he was drafted by the Flames and the pressure to perform has only grown since the start of training camp this year.
There were furious debates on social media among fans every time he got left out of the lineup before his injury, even if it was obvious that some patience was needed as he figured out how to be effective in the NHL.
It’s not like there’s no pressure when you put on a Team Canada sweater and represent your country, but Parekh has proven just how dangerous he can be against guys his own age.
This is a chance to go do it again, and we have no doubt he’ll cherish it.
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