Report: Zayne Parekh could be eligible to play in the AHL this season

The Calgary Flames are expecting Zayne Parekh to move out of the OHL this season, after putting up a whopping 107 points last season with the Saginaw Spirit. With the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NHLPA, there is a chance that the Flames’ blueliner could be eligible for the AHL next season.

What is the change in the NHL CBA for 19-year-old players?

As broken down by Puckpedia, the NHL’s CBA is going through several changes as part of the new agreement. One of the key considerations is how players who are 19 years old or who have played fewer than four full seasons in the CHL’s three leagues, WHL, OHL, and QMJHL, are treated.

As it stands currently, players in those leagues must be at least 20 or have played at least four full seasons in the CHL to be eligible for the AHL. This is primarily aimed at retaining top talent in the CHL, but it also prohibits young players who are too talented for the CHL from advancing to the AHL, even if they have entry-level contracts with NHL teams.

In the new CBA, there is a provision that the NHL “will reopen its agreement with the CHL to seek to eliminate the mandatory return rule for 19-year-old Players“. This provision then allows an NHL team to loan one 19-year-old CHL player to the AHL without first consulting with their respective team.

This change was reported to be included in the CBA starting in the 2026–27 season when the CHL-NHL MOU is set to expire, but the most recent reports suggest this will be trialled as early as this season. The language is tricky on this, but it does require agreement from the CHL and the AHL in order to make this happen.

For the Flames, this would be a huge breath of relief. This change would allow them to trial Parekh in the NHL to start the year, and if he does not work out or needs additional seasoning, allow them to put him in that league for some time to grow.

The jump between the CHL and NHL is enormous, and the risk of him not being good enough for regular NHL minutes is a big one. Former top prospect Shane Wright is a good example of a player who was far too good for the OHL but could not quite make the jump to the NHL right away. After some time, he was sent back to the OHL, where he finished the season, but it would have been far more preferable had the team been able to send him to the AHL to grow.

What happens next for Parekh

While there are a few steps still to be cleared before the agreement can be reached, this change would be beneficial to both teams and players. While the hope is, of course, that Parekh can be a star and a Calder Trophy Winner this season, having this as a fallback option would be great for the Flames.