With junior season over, could Flames top prospect Zayne Parekh be on his way to Calgary soon?
The Saginaw Spirit are out of the playoffs.
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.
daustin@postmedia.com
www.twitter.com/DannyAustin_9

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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Red Wings NHL Draft scenarios: The steal, the trade-up, the chalk
The NHL Draft is always good for a few surprises. Last year, the right permutation of picks led to exciting young defenseman Zeev Buium still being available at No. 12, where Minnesota picked him. In 2023, the uncertainty around thrilling Russian winger Matvei Michkov allowed Philadelphia to snag him at No. 7. We've seen exciting young players such as Cole Caufield, Zach Benson and Jonathan Lekkerimaki hang around into the teens. Advertisement The point is: No matter how many mock drafts you make (or read), there's always something that can throw it all out the window. And in a year where the Detroit Red Wings once again moved down in the draft lottery, dropping to Pick 13, they could use that kind of break. With enough talent in the top half of the first round to find a good fit, the Red Wings should get a good player regardless. It helps that their range is particularly rich in skilled wingers, which is one of their top needs. But with a little luck in front of them, and perhaps some creativity, could Detroit benefit from a draft-day surprise? That's what this article is meant to explore, looking at three different scenarios: the (broadly) expected outcome, one way the Red Wings could get a steal, and one path that could entice them to trade up. 1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie (OHL) 2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL) 3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgårdens (Allsvenskan) 4. Utah Mammoth: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL) 5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA) 6. Philadelphia Flyers: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL) 7. Boston Bruins: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL) 8. Seattle Kraken: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL) 9. Buffalo Sabres: Brady Martin, C, Soo (OHL) 10. Anaheim Ducks: Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL) 11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie (OHL) 12. New York Rangers: Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL) For the chalk scenario here, I mainly used the results of The Athletic's latest staff mock draft — with one exception. As much as the Rangers could use a young center in their pipeline, I think the better value at 12 would be with Smith, a 6-foot-4 left-handed defenseman with real upside who should go right in this range. Defense is still a premium position worthy of the 12th pick, and New York could use more young blueliners, especially if it trades K'Andre Miller. Advertisement Odds are, not every center listed above will stick at the position in the NHL, but they all at least have a chance to. Seeing so many centers and defensemen going in the top 12 wouldn't be a surprise with how hard it is to find top players at those positions outside the top of the draft. But because Detroit has done well to stockpile centers and blueliners with its own early picks in recent years, the Red Wings are well suited to take a winger who slips as the premium positions fly off the board. The pick: Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgårdens (Allsvenskan) Earlier in this draft cycle, Eklund still being on the board at 13 would have qualified as a steal — and you could still argue that it is, with the tenacious Swede rated the eighth-best player in the class by both Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler. He's a speedy winger with great goal-scoring ability, which he's proven translates against men. You can't quite call it a perfect fit. Eklund is a smaller winger (5-11, 169 pounds) and a right-hand shot, and Detroit is arguably over-leveraged on both traits. But it's hard to argue with Eklund's talent, and his competitiveness (and track record in a European pro league) certainly tracks with the Red Wings' M.O. Perhaps more importantly, Eklund's speed, skill and scoring ability would add more of a dynamic element to Detroit's system. This would be a great chance to pounce on a potential top-line forward. If Smith makes it to 13, it would be a good debate between his upside as a potential top-four, two-way defenseman and Eklund — or even one of the other top forwards, such as Carter Bear, Justin Carbonneau, Cole Reschny and Lynden Lakovic. But if things go as expected in the top 12, I keep coming back to Eklund as the choice. 1. Islanders: Schaefer 2. San Jose: Misa 3. Chicago: Frondell 4. Utah: Desnoyers 5. Nashville: O'Brien 6. Philadelphia: Martin 7. Boston: Hagens 8. Seattle: Martone 9. Buffalo: Mrtka 10. Anaheim: Eklund 11. Pittsburgh: Smith 12. Rangers: Aitcheson Advertisement There's one obvious name missing from the group of 12 above Detroit here. McQueen was confident enough in his recovery from a back injury to participate in fitness testing at the NHL Combine, which is a good sign. He discussed the issue being 'past' him, and if team doctors agree with that assessment, it's very hard to envision a 6-5 center with his skill set lasting to the 13th pick on draft day. But he's still an 18-year-old who has already experienced a back injury, and that's something teams will have to weigh when it comes time to actually pick him. With lots of other centers and defensemen high in the draft, maybe that introduces just enough doubt to sway some decisions against him in that No. 6-12 range — leaving a rare young talent on the board. The pick: McQueen Of course, Detroit's own doctors would need to be on board here, which is not a given, especially because this scenario requires some hesitation from other teams that would presumably have the same information. But McQueen's upside as a skilled, big-bodied center who can skate is immense. That would make this a risk worth taking for the Red Wings to get the kind of talent the draft lottery has seldom afforded them a swing at. Pronman compared him to Quinton Byfield, who went second in the 2020 draft. He would also give the Red Wings a ton of future options with their center group, which already includes Dylan Larkin, Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson. Larkin is soon to be 29, and if McQueen hits, it would take some pressure off of Kasper to grow into a No. 1 center as Larkin ages. It would also open up the possibility of moving someone to the wing down the line, while still having enviable center depth. That said, if teams are confident in McQueen's back, it's hard to imagine this one coming to fruition. It would take a lot of things going Detroit's way. But you never know for sure, especially when there are injury questions this high in a draft. Advertisement 1. Islanders: Schaefer 2. San Jose: Misa 3. Chicago: Frondell 4. Utah: Desnoyers 5. Nashville: Martin 6. Philadelphia: Hagens 7. Boston: McQueen 8. Seattle: Mrtka 9. Buffalo: Martone Let's get this out of the way first: Teams picking in the top 10 rarely trade down. That being said, we did see Buffalo move back a few spots (from 11 to 14) last year, at the cost of a second-round pick, so it's also not impossible. In this scenario, there's a heavy run on centers in the top seven, with the Kraken deviating from the trend and taking Mrtka. O'Brien and Martone are highly talented forwards whose skill and size could fit the still-building Kraken, but Seattle has taken forwards with its first-round pick in all four drafts in franchise history. At some point, you'd think the Kraken would opt for a blueliner, and maybe that happens this year. If it does, Buffalo would be sitting pretty at No. 9, getting to pick between two big playmakers in Martone and O'Brien. O'Brien has the center factor going for him, but the potential physicality from Martone would be something the Sabres' highly skilled prospect pool lacks. So in this scenario, they take the 6-3 winger. Anaheim could very easily take whichever of the two falls to 10, of course. But you can argue the Ducks are pretty well-stocked with both playmakers and responsible centers and could use more of an up-tempo scorer to complement Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Beckett Sennecke, Trevor Zegras and Cutter Gauthier in their young core (though Gauthier is certainly a scorer). The Ducks also have a pair of extremely promising young LHD in Jackson Lacombe and Pavel Mintyukov, which means that side of the blue line isn't a glaring need. Could that put a trade-up in play? In that scenario, Anaheim would drop back a few spots, add an asset on the right side of the blue line via the trade and target a scoring winger such as Eklund, Carbonneau, Bear or Lakovic with Pick 13. The deal: Detroit trades Pick 13 and RHD Anton Johansson for Pick 10 The pick: O'Brien Parting with Johansson could sting for Detroit. Watching him in the AHL playoffs (which he jumped right into, having spent the whole year in the SHL), I was actually more impressed by the 6-4 Swede than I was by Grand Rapids Griffins regulars William Wallinder and Shai Buium, both high second-round picks in recent years. He's a smooth skater, he plays with an edge, and he has some offense in his game, too. Advertisement So while Johansson was a fourth-round pick in 2022, I'd put his value in line with a second-rounder, and he's closer to the NHL than a pick would be. If I'm a little off on that valuation, Detroit also has two back-to-back third-rounders (75 and 76) and could also include one of those if needed — though I'd already be hesitant to part with Johansson, who has some serious tools. The draw, though, would be in O'Brien's promise as a 6-2 center with plenty of offensive upside. O'Brien nearly put up 100 points in the OHL this season, finishing at 98 (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games. That was good for eighth in the league, and he won't turn 18 until next week. Adding a playmaker of his caliber would be worth the big swing to get him, even if, again, his right-hand shot isn't quite ideal for the Red Wings' forward makeup. Whether Detroit wants to use him as a center or on the wing, the appeal is his skill and brain in a bigger body. That should allow him to create more in the middle of the ice, a key need for the Red Wings. It's not a likely scenario. But if you're looking for something to dream on as the June calendar drags on, this would be one path to a draft-day splash. (Top photo of Jake O'Brien: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)


Boston Globe
21 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Former UMass star Cale Makar wins Norris Trophy as NHL's top defenseman
He received first-place votes on 176 of the 191 ballots cast by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The 26-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, has been a Norris finalist in each of the last five seasons. Makar finds himself in elite company as he joins Bobby Orr (eight times), Denis Potvin (three), Paul Coffey, Rod Langway and Erik Karlsson as the only players to take home two or more Norris Trophies before turning 27. Advertisement Makar, who won the Hobey Baker Award at UMass while leading the Minutemen to the Frozen Four in 2019, was surprised with the award by his family and friends. He was golfing with his buddies in a video posted on the NHL's social media account when they stopped midround. A big group was waiting in the yard for him and clapped as he received the trophy. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Halfway to fore. 🏌 A golf outing with friends turned into a surprise party to celebrate Cale Makar's second James Norris Memorial Trophy! 👏 Watch the 2025 — NHL (@NHL) 'My first thought was, honestly, that one of the boys that I was playing with won some golf trophy and it was a surprise thing,' Makar said in the video. 'It definitely was not on my radar.' His mom added: 'Even though he doesn't like surprises, his reaction today was awesome.' Makar's regular season included such milestone moments as scoring his 100th career NHL goal (Jan. 18 against Dallas) and becoming the third-fastest defenseman in history to reach 400 career points (Feb. 23 at St. Louis). Advertisement He began the season by matching a career high with a 13-game point streak. He was in a tie with Mark Stone for the scoring lead at the end of October. That was the first time a blueliner led or shared the league lead in points at the end of October since Orr was in a four-way tie on Nov. 1, 1974. In addition, Makar helped Canada take home the title in the midseason Makar had a goal and four assists in a first-round playoff loss to Dallas during a series that went seven games. His 1.08 points per game average in the postseason is the third-best among defensemen with at least 60 playoff games. He also won the Norris in 2022, a season in which the Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Does Kirill Zarubin have a future in Calgary's crease?
If the Calgary Flames had waited any longer, they weren't going to get their guy. That was the feedback that Jordan Sigalet, the Flames director of goaltending, received from his counterparts around the league after selecting Russian netminder Kirill Zarubin with the No. 84 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. 'You get the text messages right after — 'Screw you, we were taking him next!'' Sigalet said with a chuckle. 'So then you feel kind of relieved. 'There were a lot of people that were hoping he was going to slip to the fourth round. I've heard a couple teams were going to take him with their next pick in the third round. So I think we got him at the right time. 'We think we have a really, really good goalie with a bright future ahead of him.' And now comes the patience part. It's worth noting that the Flames have not often drafted a twine-minder as early as the third round, especially not of late, so they clearly believe that Zarubin has major upside. Many consider him to be Calgary's most promising puck-stopping prospect, a candidate to someday be Dustin Wolf's sidekick/understudy at Scotia Place, but even the most optimistic projections would put him a few years away. Adding to the intrigue is that there's a measure of mystery with this 19-year-old masked man. Flames fans have been scouring social media for highlight clips, but those can be hard to find. While Zarubin is studying English, a sign he is serious about a sooner-than-later move to North America, he isn't ready for interview requests just yet. With the current advisories against travel to Russia, Sigalet wasn't able to attend any of his games this winter with AKM Tula in the junior-level MHL, although he didn't miss a single start on the online stream. Since Zarubin will remain with the same organization for another season, it will be a similar setup in the coming months. If he is able to secure a visitor visa, Zarubin hopes to attend development camp this summer. That would mark his first trip to Calgary and he'd likely be surprised by how many folks will show up to watch him practise with the other future pieces. 'His maturity, both physically and mentally, it's far beyond his age,' Sigalet said of Zarubin, who is 6-foot-3, roughly 200 pounds and turns 20 in September. 'He's big. He's smart. He's very, very patient. And he has mature details for a 19-year-old. He's very calm, very composed. But when he has to get uncomfortable, he can move. He can get to his spots. 'I talk to him every other day on WhatsApp and he's very accountable, too. If I write him about his game and tell him he had a good game, it's always, 'No, I could be better. I could have stopped one of those.' 'He played a little bit less this year, just because their 20-year-old, (Ilya) Kanarsky, was back. Kirill played more last year because that kid was hurt. But when he did play, he was outstanding and just got better as the season went on.' That didn't go unnoticed. As Zarubin was in the midst of posting a 12-9 record, 2.34 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 21 appearances with AKM Tula, Sigalet's phone continued to buzz — not with curses from his counterparts but rather with reach-outs from recruiters wondering about his plans for the 2025-26 campaign. While at least one powerhouse college program had Zarubin earmarked as a could-be starter, there were concerns that he would struggle with classes due to the language barrier. The Youngstown Phantoms called his name in the USHL's draft this spring, but he has instead inked an extension at home. Flames fans should not view that as negative news, since Russia is the leading country for developing future crease stars. Some of the best puck-stoppers on the planet — guys like Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy — honed their skills for multiple seasons in the MHL. Leonid Grishukevich, the goaltending coach for AKM Tula, had plenty of praise for Zarubin. In a text message conversation, he described him as an 'excellent student.' Listing off some of his strengths, he mentioned he 'perfectly copes with emotions,' 'understands and reads the game well' and 'fights to the end in every moment.' According to Grishukevich, who is originally from Belarus and spent one winter in the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the late-90s as the last-line-of-defence for the Olds Grizzlys, Zarubin likes to watch and study Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche. As Grishukevich summarized: 'Kirill likes his tactics of the game, the use of his own size and the choice of positioning.' David Phillips, the chief goaltending scout for FC Hockey, tracked Zarubin through his draft season. In more recent video viewings, he has noticed some significant strides. Brent Dodginghorse, Willie O'Ree award winner, on importance of diversity and respect in sports Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf finishes second in Calder Trophy race 'When he was drafted by Calgary, I could see why they'd want a guy like him because of the raw talent and the size and the athleticism that he does have,' Phillips said. 'And then this year, I was very impressed with how much more refined he became. 'His footwork looks a lot better. His positioning was always quite good. And then he's done a good job of keeping his athleticism and contesting shots all over the ice with that athleticism by being able to just explode into a save.' Could he eventually explode on scene as a factor for the Flames? While some mystery remains, he's apparently motivated to do exactly that. 'It's his dream,' Sigalet said. 'He wants to come over here as soon as possible. He'd come today if we told him to come today. It just has to be the right situation.' wgilbertson@