How the World Juniors could impact Zayne Parekh’s future UFA status

On Sunday, Calgary Flames top prospect Zayne Parekh hit a significant contractual milestone, playing in his 10th game of the 2025-26 season. By doing so, Parekh’s three year entry level contract began to run.

But a second, arguably larger, contractual milestone looms in the coming months. And the timing of that milestone could be impacted significantly by the upcoming 2026 World Junior Championship tournament in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

So here’s the deal, gang: the first year of Parekh’s deal begins this season whether he’s in the NHL or not. He is eligible to be returned to the Ontario Hockey League, but all indications are that the Flames want to keep Parekh with the big club. If he’s obviously in over his head, though, they have until January’s CHL roster deadline to sent him back. (We really doubt it happens, but it’s an option of last resort.)

Because he’s a teenager drafted out of the CHL, Parekh is only eligible to play in the AHL this season on a conditioning stint from the Flames – and that’s only if he sits as a healthy scratch for five consecutive games. If he goes on a conditioning stint, he would continue to count against the salary cap and use up a spot on the active roster while he was with the Wranglers.

Staying on the active roster is important, because the second contractual gate that players can hit as teenagers is being on the NHL active roster for 40 games (regardless of how many games he plays). Once Parekh is on the roster for 40 games, he gets credit for a season of “accrued service,” which could get him to unrestricted free agency a season earlier than other players – you’re a UFA when you have seven years of accrued service or turn 27, whichever happens first. One thing that could freeze the active roster clock, though, is a potential loan to join the Canadian national junior team at the World Juniors.

So here’s the deal: if Parekh is loaned out, he would not be considered part of the Flames’ active roster. Canada’s World Junior camp runs Dec. 12-22 in Niagara Falls, followed by the tournament itself from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. We don’t want to be presumptuous, but it would be very rare for an NHL player who’s made available for the World Juniors to not make the team.

Dec. 10, a home game against Detroit, is the Flames’ 32nd game and potentially the game before Parekh’s loan would begin. Presuming that Canada plays until the end of the medal round, Parekh would rejoin the Flames for their eastern road trip starting Jan. 7 in Montreal. In this scenario, his 40th game on the roster would be Jan. 21 at home against Pittsburgh.

We’re of the mindset that Parekh is with the Flames for the long haul. He’s probably not going anywhere. But if the Flames want to retain some contractual flexibility, and potentially help Parekh build some confidence and swagger, a trip to the World Juniors could do both.