Can Zayne Parekh become an NHL regular? (Chasing 97 points)

The Calgary Flames will be employing virtually the same team that achieved 96 points last season in their pursuit of 97+ points this season. That said, there inevitably will be some additions and subtractions as the season drags on. One of the largest potential additions is that of blue-chip prospect Zayne Parekh, who is certain to see some NHL playing time this upcoming season: the only question being, how much? And is he good enough to step in and become an NHL regular?

If the answer is yes, then the 19-year-old will represent a heck of a boost for the red team, who will need one if they’re to take that next step and punch their ticket to the postseason, especially with the inevitable departure of Rasmus Andersson.

Parekh has had unprecedented success in the Ontario Hockey League since being selected ninth overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft. His 107 points last season were the most by an OHL defenceman in over 30 years.

It seems pointless to send Parekh back to his junior team, the Saginaw Spirit, but his AHL ineligibility makes a return to the OHL a serious option.

Calgary will surely prioritize the dynamic defenceman’s development over anything else, and if he can pass the eye test at the NHL level, like he did during his one-game stint last season, they’ll likely keep him around.

Recent history is also on Zayne’s side, with 19 and 20-year-old defencemen having huge impacts in their rookie seasons. Look no further than Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes in 2019-20, and most recently Lane Hutson last season, all of whom eclipsed 0.77 points per game as rookies.

It’s not all that crazy to think that Parekh can replicate a similar level of success in his first campaign. For context, Parekh’s OHL production from last year stacks up really well against Makar, Hughes and Hutson’s college stats in their final seasons.

Using NHLE or NHL Equivalency, we can compare statistics across different leagues in terms of their expected scoring potential in the NHL.

By this metric, Parekh’s prolific OHL production is even more impressive than what Makar, Hughes and Hutson were able to accomplish a year prior to their rookie seasons. It’s worth noting that Parekh is a year younger than both Makar and Hutson were when they graduated to the NHL.

Though his stats warrant an NHL roster spot, the Markham, Ontario native will still need to take someone’s job.

If Parekh is to make the team out of training camp, he’ll have to supplant either Jake Bean or Brayden Pachal, and because Zayne occupies the right side, Pachal, who’s also a righty, would be the logical one for one swap on paper. However, after a solid 2024-25 campaign, Pachal’s spot on the blueline is fairly solidified, and it’s instead Bean who’s more likely to cede their position in the lineup. A lefty for righty swap would require either Pachal or Mackenzie Weegar to occupy the left side in order to balance things out, but that’s something they’re both capable of doing.

This discussion is, of course, all trivial if Rasmus Andersson is traded, as he would leave a gaping hole on the defensive depth chart and Parekh would be the favourite to take that vacant roster spot, if he doesn’t already have it.

All things considered, Parekh has a clear path ahead of him to become an NHL regular and play most of the season with the Flames this year, given he can hold his own against professionals.