It’s a connection that, ideally, could carry the Calgary Flames forward well into the 2030s.
Two foundational pieces, both only 20 years old — and Matt Coronato, who isn’t exactly long in the tooth at 23, either — combining late in a game on the power-play against the Los Angeles Kings.
When Zayne Parekh scored his first goal of the season, the assists were credited to Coronato and Matvei Gridin.
For everyone begging for more playing time for the Flames’ young players, you could hardly have asked for more.
Well, maybe this quote from Gridin after the Flames sealed their 3-2 shootout win counts as “more.”
“Hopefully, we’ll play for 15 more years together and generate a lot.”
That would be a dream for Flames fans.
It’s worth going over the details of Tuesday night’s goal.
The Flames were down 2-1 with under seven minutes left in regulation against the Kings. It could have been a situation where head coach Ryan Huska threw on established veterans who have been there before many times.
Instead, the young guns were sent out to get the job done.
“They’re two of our more skilled players,” Huska said. “Matvei has really good sense. He moves the puck well. It’s on and off his stick very quickly. That’s something our power-play has struggled with all year, Matvei’s not that way, he’s kind of wired a little differently.
“I think that’s why when he’s out there it seems to have a little more success. We’ve talked before, it doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or you’re 39, if you can help it be better you’re going to get a chance.”
Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich beats Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper for the winning goal in the shootout on Tuesday.
The youth movement is just getting started for the Flames. Their two first-round picks from last year, Cullen Potter and Cole Reschny, are still playing college hockey, and they’ve got two more coming this June. One of those picks will likely be in the top 5 and if the Vegas Golden Knights keep dropping games, the pick the Flames acquired in the Noah Hanifin trade should be pretty good, too.
But in some ways, Parekh and Gridin represent the first wave. Coronato is a part of it, too, as is Hunter Brzustewicz, who is only 21 and looked solid on the blue line against the Kings.
“It’s great, I mean, I miss (MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson after they were traded), but it’s nice to see the youth movement come along,” Parekh said. “Those guys were great mentors to me and always teaching me the ins and outs, but it’s nice we continue to get younger and we’re trying to build something here.”
Parekh will be a big part of whatever it is the Flames are building — a Stanley Cup contender, hopefully. He scored his first NHL goal in his first-ever game last year, but has had to wait a lot longer for his second.
There’s been a spotlight on him ever since the Flames selected him ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft and it’s probably been a bit unfair how closely his every move has been watched this season. He started the campaign as a 19-year-old; he’s barely 20 now.
There have been ups and downs, but that was inevitable.
“He just needs to remember he’s doing a lot of great things away from the puck,” Huska said. “He’s learning how to play the game at the NHL level, which is crazy. He’s a smaller defenceman (listed at 6-feet and 179 pounds) and a skilled guy and it’s hard to break in as a 19-year-old and I think he’s doing an excellent job.
“A lot of that pressure, I feel, gets put on him from outside sources at times and what he is doing is learning to be more of a complete player and I think he’s done an excellent job at that. The points are going to come for him, that’s a matter of time. It’s starting to feel comfortable and how to play in the NHL.”
Parekh definitely looked comfortable scoring his first of the season on Tuesday. Gridin did, too.
Hopefully, it’s the first of many connections between the two.
Flames goalie Dustin Wolf stops Kings forward Jared Wright.
Flames defenceman Olli Maatta scores on Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.
Yegor Sharangovich battles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty.
Flames forward Adam Klapka battles Drew Doughty.
Flames defenceman Joel Hanley battles Kings forward Mathieu Joseph.
Olli Maatta battles Kings forward Jeff Malott.