2024 DRAFT 9th Overall Zayne Parekh

[Ledge And Dairy]

His game actively defending is under rated, especially against the rush. He is gonna struggle against NHLers in corners and net front until he just keeps adding strength, but I don’t think that’ll be his biggest problem.

I think it can be a misnomer, but where he is gonna struggle pretty bad against NHLers ”defensively” is on the offensive blue line for his first few seasons. He is an absolute magician in the OHL on the blue line, but the biggest gap between the CHL to AHL, and AHL to NHL, is the time you get to make decisions. His partner is going to go grey from the stress of all the odd man rushes they face his first couple years while he learns what does and doesn’t work in the pros.

I don't think it will take as long as you are making it out to be for him to figure it out. He's an incredible smart person with great vision. Yes there will be a few times early on he will get beat like that but I think he will adjust fairly fast

 

[Yepthatsme]

I don't think it will take as long as you are making it out to be for him to figure it out. He's an incredible smart person with great vision. Yes there will be a few times early on he will get beat like that but I think he will adjust fairly fast

He absolutely is incredibly smart, but he has multiple aspects of his game that are just straight up not NHL ready which is why it’s almost a unanimous opinion we wish he could play in the AHL next year. He is gonna take the risks and still make the offensive minded plays he makes in the O, but against bigger, smarter, faster, and worlds better players. So either we coach him to stop taking the risks he does that makes him have superstar potential, or we let him play his game and suffer the consequences they entail.

I think you underestimate how long it takes defenseman to figure it out. There’s a reason defenseman’s peak in the NHL is usually 26-30, and break in to the NHL on average much later than forwards. Parekh has super star potential, but this was the first season of his 3 in the OHL those warts were less noticeable, let alone with the jump to the pros he’s about to make.

 

[Fig]

I think the other thing is game speed and strength. That kind of jump in speed and strength takes getting used to. The worst thing to happen isn't that he is sent out and flounders. It's that he goes out, plays a few games, gets a few points and someone decides to wreck him to "welcome him to the NHL". From that point on, he plays scared. Whatever talent he has is limited forever more due to fear.

We saw this somewhat with Baertchi and Pelletier. This isn't like a NCAA vs NHL step up where we've seen a decent amount of guys just step in and acclimate quickly. It's a far wider gap.

IMO one of the most overlooked skills for a rookie is learning how to be OK in taking a hit/lessen a hit at the NHL level. Not learning this in time can completely derail the career of a prospect.

 

[Lunatik]

I think the other thing is game speed and strength. That kind of jump in speed and strength takes getting used to. The worst thing to happen isn't that he is sent out and flounders. It's that he goes out, plays a few games, gets a few points and someone decides to wreck him to "welcome him to the NHL". From that point on, he plays scared. Whatever talent he has is limited forever more due to fear.

We saw this somewhat with Baertchi and Pelletier. This isn't like a NCAA vs NHL step up where we've seen a decent amount of guys just step in and acclimate quickly. It's a far wider gap.

IMO one of the most overlooked skills for a rookie is learning how to be OK in taking a hit/lessen a hit at the NHL level. Not learning this in time can completely derail the career of a prospect.

great post... and NCAA is full of older players than the CHL, so those guys face men more often and the strength of opponents isn't as dramatic

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

He absolutely is incredibly smart, but he has multiple aspects of his game that are just straight up not NHL ready which is why it’s almost a unanimous opinion we wish he could play in the AHL next year. He is gonna take the risks and still make the offensive minded plays he makes in the O, but against bigger, smarter, faster, and worlds better players. So either we coach him to stop taking the risks he does that makes him have superstar potential, or we let him play his game and suffer the consequences they entail.

I think you underestimate how long it takes defenseman to figure it out. There’s a reason defenseman’s peak in the NHL is usually 26-30, and break in to the NHL on average much later than forwards. Parekh has super star potential, but this was the first season of his 3 in the OHL those warts were less noticeable, let alone with the jump to the pros he’s about to make.

Oh I'm not saying he will be a 2-way stud right away, if ever. Like it took Makar and Hughes a few years to figure it out too. I just think he could be very similar to how Lane Hutson has been this year. Especially since the offensive opportunity is absolutely there. Weegar is one of the best defensive dmen in the league when he's not tasked with running both the offense and defense on a line so I think if they are partnered together he will be able to cover for him the same way Tanev did for Hughes when he first entered

 

[JPeeper]

I think the other thing is game speed and strength. That kind of jump in speed and strength takes getting used to. The worst thing to happen isn't that he is sent out and flounders. It's that he goes out, plays a few games, gets a few points and someone decides to wreck him to "welcome him to the NHL". From that point on, he plays scared. Whatever talent he has is limited forever more due to fear.

We saw this somewhat with Baertchi and Pelletier. This isn't like a NCAA vs NHL step up where we've seen a decent amount of guys just step in and acclimate quickly. It's a far wider gap.

IMO one of the most overlooked skills for a rookie is learning how to be OK in taking a hit/lessen a hit at the NHL level. Not learning this in time can completely derail the career of a prospect.

Having board battles in your own zone against 16-20 year olds is a lot different than board battles against guys in their late 20's/early 30's who have been working out as long as you've been alive.

Speed and decision making is one thing, but you can only get so strong when you're 19 years old. Unless your a mutant like Sid (ass of two men), Eichel (guy was doing Olympic lifts with like 3 plates at 18 years old), it takes time to get strength. There's a reason why the peak age for athletes is in the late 20's.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Can he go to Europe for a season?

Nope

Actually I believe he could. They were talking about this today on 960. Pat said the concern would be that you would then have zero involvement on his development and usage. Youd need to figure out a team willing to help develop him. The Flames could in theory loan him somewhere in Europe, thats the kicker I believe. He cant go sign a contract somewhere, but the Flames could loan him out.

 

[Lunatik]

Actually I believe he could. They were talking about this today on 960. Pat said the concern would be that you would then have zero involvement on his development and usage. Youd need to figure out a team willing to help develop him. The Flames could in theory loan him somewhere in Europe, thats the kicker I believe. He cant go sign a contract somewhere, but the Flames could loan him out.

I don't think that is correct. I am pretty sure him signing his ELC causes the CHL/NHL agreement to kick in and now if he's not in the NHL he has to be sent back to the CHL.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I don't think that is correct. I am pretty sure him signing his ELC causes the CHL/NHL agreement to kick in and now if he's not in the NHL he has to be sent back to the CHL.

Pretty sure that agreement only limits him from going to the AHL.

 

[Lunatik]

Pretty sure that agreement only limits him from going to the AHL.

We'll probably find out soon, this seemed like a BoH board question lol

Thread 'NHL/CHL transfer agreement question regarding loaning a player to Europe.'

Today at 12:59 AM

So this is a discussion we've been having on the Flames board regarding Zayne Parekh. Most fans feel that he doesn't have anything else to learn in the CHL

I know that if he hadn't signed his ELC he'd be eligible to sign pretty much anywhere and play, including an AHL contract. But since he signed his ELC, are the Flames allowed to loan him to a European club instead of sending him back to the OHL?

I don't believe he can be because signing his ELC causes the transfer agreement to kick in. But others believe he can, and even Calgary radio has been suggesting this recently.

Is it possible?

• Lunatik
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Fugu's Business of Hockey Forum

 

[Zirakzigil]

We'll probably find out soon, this seemed like a BoH board question lol

Thread 'NHL/CHL transfer agreement question regarding loaning a player to Europe.'

Today at 12:59 AM

So this is a discussion we've been having on the Flames board regarding Zayne Parekh. Most fans feel that he doesn't have anything else to learn in the CHL

I know that if he hadn't signed his ELC he'd be eligible to sign pretty much anywhere and play, including an AHL contract. But since he signed his ELC, are the Flames allowed to loan him to a European club instead of sending him back to the OHL?

I don't believe he can be because signing his ELC causes the transfer agreement to kick in. But others believe he can, and even Calgary radio has been suggesting this recently.

Is it possible?

• Lunatik
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Fugu's Business of Hockey Forum

Yeah. I dont think it falls under the transfer agreement because hes not going to the AHL, which is spelled out under it. End of the day the Flames should not of signed him to his ELC and he could just go to the NCAA. Mute point now though. I am pretty confident Europe is an option as a loan, just a matter of finding a team willing to do it and help develop him.

 

[Lunatik]

Yeah. I dont think it falls under the transfer agreement because hes not going to the AHL, which is spelled out under it. End of the day the Flames should not of signed him to his ELC and he could just go to the NCAA. Mute point now though. I am pretty confident Europe is an option as a loan, just a matter of finding a team willing to do it and help develop him.

Moot

And the NCAA didn't change their rules until long after Parekh signed, so at that time it wasn't even an option.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Moot

And the NCAA didn't change their rules until long after Parekh signed, so at that time it wasn't even an option.

Tomato Tomuto

I find it incredibly difficult to believe that there werent rumorings that the NCAA rules were going to be changing, It didnt happen out of nowhere.

 

[Lunatik]

Tomato Tomuto

I find it incredibly difficult to believe that there werent rumorings that the NCAA rules were going to be changing, It didnt happen out of nowhere.

There was over 4 months in between and I think people have been fighting for this to happen for several years. I know I hadn't heard any new rumors about it before it came out in November.

That said, there is also the chance Parekh wasn't interested in going to the NCAA and wanted to try and make the NHL club in 2025-26... he a very confident kid, so I could absolutely see him pushing for that

 

[Bounces R Way]

Ready or not he's going to make the NHL next season. Not a ton of doubt in my mind that's the plan, but with this franchise you always must allow for some. I swear to god if they sign another Barrie or Bean or Miromanov to be rostered instead and he spends another year in Saginaw I'll steal a hat and a jersey from their shitty tiny store every time I go to the Saddledome until they finally knock it down.

Play him with Weegar even strength and let him run the powerplay. Put talented players in positions to succeed and more often than not they succeed. Zayne also needs to help himself out and spend his entire summer in the gym to get stronger and put some muscle on. This league has always been and is still full of big mean players that can really skate. Even 10-12lbs would make a big difference.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Ready or not he's going to make the NHL next season. Not a ton of doubt in my mind that's the plan, but with this franchise you always must allow for some. I swear to god if they sign another Barrie or Bean or Miromanov to be rostered instead and he spends another year in Saginaw I'll steal a hat and a jersey from their shitty tiny store every time I go to the Saddledome until they finally knock it down.

Play him with Weegar even strength and let him run the powerplay. Put talented players in positions to succeed and more often than not they succeed. Zayne also needs to help himself out and spend his entire summer in the gym to get stronger and put some muscle on. This league has always been and is still full of big mean players that can really skate. Even 10-12lbs would make a big difference.

He looked completely lost without the puck against NHLers in the preseason. End of the day its up to him to look serviceable in an NHL line up. Yes there will be growing pains, but if 3rd liners are regularly blowing past him and making him look foolish, thats not helpful for his growth or the team. If he looks close to ready he will be on the team, if he doesnt he wont be. Its that simple.

 

[Bounces R Way]

He looked completely lost without the puck against NHLers in the preseason. End of the day its up to him to look serviceable in an NHL line up. Yes there will be growing pains, but if 3rd liners are regularly blowing past him and making him look foolish, thats not helpful for his growth or the team. If he looks close to ready he will be on the team, if he doesnt he wont be. Its that simple.

Half of our blueline on any given night look lost whether they have the puck or not. Bean and Pachal Monday against Toronto on that Robertson goal was some of the worst coverage I've seen from a Flames D pair since the Nik Grossman days. Barrie got roasted by Ryan 'Cold Molasses' Reaves earlier this year. 33 year old Joel Hanley(bless his heart) is playing his guts out nearly 18 minutes a night for us when his career average is closer to 13 and he's never even played 50 games. I really think Zayne could step in tomorrow and be better than most of these guys.

Parekh is having a season basically nobody in Canadian major junior has had in 30 years. Sending him back to a league he has dominated would be ridiculous in my view. That's how you stagnate. That's how you get bad habits. You want to challenge elite young players early and often, that there'll be some messy months he needs to sit up top a couple games is ultimately a positive. Get him around the coaches and the other pros and learn him up early. This is supposed to be a rebuild, the short term results aren't the focus. We are not winning the cup this year and we're not gonna do it next year either. Focus instead on building and improving on the pieces that might lead to us to contend for one 4 years from now.