Opportunity knocks for Zayne Parekh.
Following the elimination of the Saginaw Spirit from the OHL playoffs, the expectation is that the Calgary Flames prospect will make his NHL debut in the coming days.
On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk chatted with prospect analyst Steven Ellis about what to expect from the budding blue-liner.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Parekh has Flames fans excited. They’re thinking they could see him in a game or two before the end of the season here. What do you make of him as a prospect and what do you make of the Flames’ decision here? Is it smart to bring this guy in and give him a handful of games down the stretch? Do you think he’s ready for that leap?
Steven Ellis: I think so. This is someone who I feel like he signed his NHL entry-level contract a bit too early. I would have loved to see him go to college next year because he has nothing else to prove at the OHL level next year at this point. He had 33 goals and 107 points. This is the type of guy who plays with so much confidence and so much energy. I talked to a scout yesterday he told me Parekh is going to be a rockstar-level player. He’s going to be somebody who people pay to watch play because he’s so skilled, he’s very unique in the way that he can dominate in so many elements of the game, and it felt like early in his junior career he had that offensive potential but he was making too many mistakes in his own zone. We just don’t see that as much. I am excited to see that, but I don’t know if I want to see him in the NHL full-time yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is [next year]. That would be hilarious given he wasn’t good enough to make Canada’s world junior team. I was there for Canada’s camp and can tell you that he didn’t play well in that camp. But, basing his eligibility for that team on two selection camp games is a flawed concept when you look at his overall body of work. Parekh is going to be huge for Calgary, I am excited, and I do hope we see him in the NHL in the next couple of days.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here:
Failed to load video.