Zayne Parekh

March 2026 – The offensive ceiling is real and the World Juniors performance only underlined it. He ran both power play units by the end of the tournament and his play creation and swagger were things Canada genuinely lacked a year ago. But the tournament also put his defensive limitations on a bigger stage. He looked out of position repeatedly, and the issues aren’t subtle – rush defense, gap control, defensive zone positioning. The Shayne Gostisbehere comparison floating around is a reminder that offensive defensemen who can’t be trusted defensively often end up in a narrower deployment role than their point totals would suggest. The ceiling is elite, the path to getting their runs directly through defensive improvement. Currently, the Flames are rotating Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz in and out of the same sheltered third-pair role, and the organizational hope is clearly that both eventually grow into top-four contributors paired alongside defensive stalwarts who can cover their inadequacies defensively. If Parekh can put in the work defensively, we could be looking at a 60-70 point defender who quarterbacks his team’s top power play for a decade – if not, he may find his way into a less prioritized role like a Tyson Barrie or Shayne Gostisbehere. Ryan Downey

August 2025 – Zayne Parekh has solidified his status as one of the most dynamic defensive prospects in the NHL. Following his record breaking 2023-24 OHL season, where he put up 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games, Parekh stepped up his dominance in the OHL, putting up 33 goals and 107 points in 61 games, including a plus-42 rating. His back-to-back 33 goal seasons mark him as the first OHL defenseman to achieve 30 or more goals in consecutive seasons since Bobby Orr. Despite the slow start, Parekh erupted for 92 points in his final 46 games, averaging two points per game, followed by nine points in five playoff games for the Spirit.

Following his playoff exit, Parekh was called up by the Flames and made his debut against the LA Kings in the final game of the season. During the game, Parekh was placed on the Flames first powerplay unit and played 20:31, posting one block, one hit, a plus three rating, and recording his first NHL goal halfway through the third period off a deflection between the circles.

With talks of the Flames looking to move fellow right-handed defenseman Rasmus Andersson, there could be a spot in the top four for Parekh to slot into alongside Kevin Bahl. He would be an ideal partner to help Parekh have the confidence to roam free with Bahl being a defensive rock on the left side. Time will tell where Parekh lands this coming season, as he isn’t eligible for AHL play due to being under 20 years old, so it’s OHL or NHL this season. Parekh was at Hockey Canada’s World Junior Summer Showcase Camp, playing in a few inter-squad scrimmages before leaving camp after dealing with a minor lower body injury that needed rest in preparation for the Flames camp come September. Roko Stopic

April 2025 – Parekh was called up from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit by the Calgary Flames on April 8, 2025. He scored 33 goals and added 74 assists over 61 games with the Spirit during the 2024-25 season, his third campaign in the OHL. Parekh added two goals and seven assists across five playoff games. With 87 points in 77 games, the Flames are four points back of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Their next game is Wednesday, April 9th, against the Anaheim Ducks, when Parekh could make his NHL debut. Mark Henry

July 2024 – The Calgary Flames signed Parekh to a three-year, entry-level contract on July 5, 2024. Mark Henry

June 2024 – Parekh was selected 9th overall by the Flames. Pat Quinn

April 2024 – Zayne Parekh had a monster year on the scoresheet, putting up 33 goals and 63 assists, good enough to finish in the top 10 in OHL scoring. He’s the most dynamic offensive creator in the draft and can put up points in many ways. Parekh has a wicked shot with a quick and deceptive release. In addition to his shot, Parekh is a fearless player with the puck on his stick. He attempts passes others do not and converts on many of them, too. His entire game is built on deception, and he creates space for himself using impressive four-way mobility, edge work, head fakes, and look-offs. Parekh can play with too much confidence and try to stickhandle out of sticky situations. He could afford to show more urgency, dish the puck off to a teammate, or make a clearing attempt. There’s almost no physical game with Parekh, and his defense difficulties are real. He’s used to playing in a free-flowing system, which gives him a lot of autonomy, but he’ll need to play more structured and compete harder in the NHL. The offensive upside with Parekh is undeniable. He should quickly become a PP1 player who puts up many points, even if he plays down in the lineup at even strength. Jordan Harris (April Ranking: 5th)

November 2023 – Zayne Parekh is the most dynamic defenseman in this year’s draft class. His offensive game is so advanced that he always has a plan when the puck is on his stick. Parekh is the king of deception and misdirection as he will line up his eyesight and hips in one direction, getting opponents to chase in that direction before flipping his hips fluidly and cutting up or cutting back against the grain unevaded to the net. Parekh is an excellent passer and playmaker who works the give-and-go high. To top things off, Parekh is a gifted goal scorer who can rip the puck past OHL goalies. He can sometimes be too smooth to the point where he becomes lackadaisical with the puck. This results in throwing soft no-look passes directly to the other team or allowing the puck to fall off his stick as he wasn’t careful enough. Defensively, Parekh is aggressive and effectively breaking up passes through the neutral zone. He times his pinches well, forcing turnovers that he can immediately convert into offensive chances. He’s improved as a defender against the rush, but you’d like to see him be a bit harder in his own zone. Overall, the excellent skating and offensive instincts and traits are incredibly valuable, and you will accept some of the warts with his game because the good is too rare to find elsewhere. Jordan Harris (November Rankings: 4th overall)