With junior season over, could Flames top prospect Zayne Parekh be on his way to Calgary soon?
And like clockwork, the speculation has begun about how soon Zayne Parekh might arrive in Calgary to join the Flames.
The 19-year-old defenceman, selected ninth overall in last year's NHL Draft by the Flames, saw his OHL season end on Saturday night when the Spirit allowed four third period goals to the Erie Otters, who eliminated them in five games.
About an hour before the end of the game, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman stoked the fires when he said he believes the Flames had a plan in place to bring their star blueline prospect to Calgary if the Spirit were eliminated.
The most intriguing prospect in the Flames pipeline, Parekh is coming off a spectacular season in the OHL – the Herald's Wes Gilbertson's lengthy profile of Parekh was published Friday and can be read here.
After winning the CHL's Defenceman of the Year award in 2023-24, his draft year, he did even more this past season, recording 33 goals and 74 assists in the regular season and becoming the first defenceman since Bobby Orr – yes, that Bobby Orr – to record 30 goals in two consecutive seasons on the Ontario major-junior circuit.
Parekh signed an entry-level deal with the Flames in the fall so could join the team at any time now that the Spirit have been eliminated.
While he didn't light the world on fire during training camp, the organization is high on his potential and his puck-moving, high-tempo style could help a Flames group that has struggled to score.
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Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Everything pointed to a runaway season for Liberty in 2024. The Flames were coming off a 13-1 campaign, they had Kaidon Salter returning after a monster year under center and head coach Jamey Chadwell was entering his second year. Liberty was a clear favorite to win Conference USA and there was a lot of buzz about the Flames representing the Group of 5 in the College Football Playoff. Not so fast. Liberty finished 8-4 overall, and just 5-3 in C-USA. It was a reminder to assume nothing in this sport, especially in the Group of 5. 2025 Conference USA odds Team Odds Liberty +120 Western Kentucky +350 Louisiana Tech +800 Jacksonville State +850 Sam Houston State 10/1 FIU 14/1 UTEP 14/1 Middle Tennessee 18/1 New Mexico State 25/1 Kennesaw State 33/1 Odds via bet365 (Delaware and Missouri State are ineligible to win the conference). The Favorite Despite their down year and the transfer of Salter to Colorado, Liberty is once again the runaway favorite in Conference USA, perhaps the weakest in the Group of 5. It may seem odd to install the Flames as such a short favorite, but the reality is that this program can outspend the rest of the teams in the conference by a wide margin. The Flames may be breaking in a new quarterback — Ethan Vasko, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, is the projected starter — but he will have plenty of experience in front of — and around — him. Liberty Flames head coach Jamey Chadwell. Getty Images It's also likely that Vasko and the offense won't be asked to be prolific because Liberty's defense projects to be one of the best in the Group of 5. With a terrific coach, plenty of money and a lot of talent and experience throughout the roster, Liberty remains a step above the rest of C-USA. We could have said the same thing last year, though. Dark horses Western Kentucky is the second favorite behind Liberty, and that seems a bit crazy considering the amount of turnover in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers saw 80 total transfers (in and out) take place over the offseason, and they'll have new coordinators on both sides of the ball. Tyson Helton has been steady as she goes for WKU, but he'll need to work some serious magic for this team to win eight-plus games for the fifth year running. There will also be upheaval at Jacksonville State (Rich Rodriguez has departed for West Virginia) and Sam Houston State (K.C. Keeler left for Temple, and defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity took a bunch of his players to North Texas), making them unappealing at their short prices to provide a challenge for Liberty. 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