Latest news with #ZayneParekh
National Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Under-25 power rankings on defence
Article content As we've been power-ranking the Calgary Flames ' future pieces at other positions, we have limited each list to five. Article content Article content But the Flames have such an impressive stockpile of defence prospects that we figured we'd go a little deeper on this one. Besides, you dress a half-dozen rearguards for every game, ideally three left shots and three righties. For that reason, we've gone with that same split here. Article content Article content Age: 24 Article content Working in his favour: With his 6-foot-6 frame and extended-length Bauer, Bahl's reach is approximately one city block. He ranked among the NHL's leaders this season in stick checks. Article content Still working on it: He doesn't need to be looking for open-ice hits or picking fights, but if he could develop a bit more of a mean streak, it would be bad news for opponents. Article content Big-league potential: He's already established as a Top-4 fixture and a trusted penalty-killer. Article content One of three Flames regulars to average north of 20 minutes a night this season, Bahl has cemented his status as an important presence both now and for the future. As he skates toward restricted free agency, it's believed that general manager Craig Conroy is willing to go as long as five or six years on Bahl's next contract. With the possibility that Rasmus Andersson could be traded, many have already tabbed his towering pal as the ideal partner for top prospect Zayne Parekh. Article content Article content Working in his favour: Of the Flames' junior-aged defence prospects, you could make a case that Morin's game currently is the most mature and well-rounded. Article content Several months ago, Morin would not have cracked this list. The Flames weren't satisfied with his testing scores in the fall, which explains why he wasn't tapped for a single exhibition appearance before he was reassigned to junior. They were, however, thrilled with the way that Morin responded to their challenge — both on the ice, where he piled up 81 points and posted a plus-43 rating in 85 total outings as a workhorse for the QMJHL champion Moncton Wildcats, and in the weight room.
National Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Imagining a future with Parekh and Brzustewicz on blue line
This is gonna be good. Article content That's what Calgary Flames defence prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Zayne Parekh were thinking as they surveyed the scene at Climate Pledge Arena prior to an exhibition audition last fall. Article content Article content 'When we were in Seattle for the pre-season, I was sitting on the bench with Zayne and honestly we took a moment and we were like, 'This is unreal,'' Brzustewicz beamed. 'And it was just pre-season.' Article content This is gonna be good. Article content That's what Brzustewicz and Parekh were thinking months later as they bumped fists in Los Angeles prior to their NHL debuts, one having just completed his solo lap and the other about to step foot on the ice for that customary welcome whirl. Article content As Brzustewicz put it: 'Looking up at the bright lights in L.A., it was unbelievable … I think the first thing that I looked at was all the banners of the Lakers. That was a really cool moment for me.' Article content This is gonna be good. Article content That's what Flames fans are thinking as they envision a future — and a not-so-distant one — with both of these guys in prominent roles. If all goes well, it could someday be standard to see them finish 1-2 on the team in nightly ice time. Article content There is no debating Parekh's status as the Flames' top prospect. When you match junior scoring records that were set in the 1960s by the legendary Bobby Orr, the excitement tends to crank into overdrive. This 19-year-old star-in-the-making didn't exactly hush the hype when he buried a beauty deflection in his big-league debut. Article content Many folks would have Brzustewicz, 20, slotted second on the list of Calgary's most promising pipeline pieces. He is an X-factor in the retool plans because, if he can fulfil his potential, suddenly there's a fixture for the second pairing, too. Article content Article content While everybody was buzzing through the winter about what his buddy was doing in the OHL, Brzustewicz was making a positive impression as a first-year pro, really coming on strong as he started to feel more comfortable with the pace and pressure. Article content During a recent radio interview, Flames director of player development Ray Edwards suggested that Brzustewicz was the Wranglers' best defenceman over the final third of the season and raved that he 'makes tough plays look easy and makes a lot of them.' Article content Brzustewicz completed his first AHL campaign with 32 points, fifth among rookie rearguards on that stepping-stone circuit. Like his pal, he didn't look out of place in that April 17 eye-opener against the Kings in Los Angeles.
Edmonton Journal
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The depth on defence
Article content As we go through every position in our Flames Retool Tracker series, the blue-line has always felt like it would be the most interesting week of the bunch. To get it started, here's a look at the organizational depth chart: The big question This isn't just the biggest question facing the Flames defence, it's going to be the dominant question surrounding the team as a whole until it gets sorted out. What do they do with Rasmus Andersson? The Swedish defenceman himself seemed to know that a long-term contract to stay in Calgary might not be forthcoming when he spoke with the media on garbage bag day. Not with guys like Zayne Parekh ready to break through soon. If a deal isn't worked out — and it seems unlikely — he'll have to be traded before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The return that GM Craig Conroy gets could be franchise-altering, even if Andersson underperformed in 2024-25. Is it best to move him this summer if there's a good offer on the table, or give him a chance to show he's back at his best before flipping him at the deadline?
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The depth on defence
Article content No matter what way you cut it, the future of the Calgary Flames defence looks bright. Article content Article content The team has loaded up in the NHL Draft over the last couple years and also has a few early-20s talents who could break through soon. In a couple years, there's potential for the Flames blueline to be pretty … dare we say spectacular? Article content This summer, though, the focus will be almost entirely on what they choose to do with one of their veteran leaders and how it impacts the NHL roster next year. Article content As we go through every position in our Flames Retool Tracker series, the blue-line has always felt like it would be the most interesting week of the bunch. Article content To get it started, here's a look at the organizational depth chart: Article content The big question Article content This isn't just the biggest question facing the Flames defence, it's going to be the dominant question surrounding the team as a whole until it gets sorted out. What do they do with Rasmus Andersson? The Swedish defenceman himself seemed to know that a long-term contract to stay in Calgary might not be forthcoming when he spoke with the media on garbage bag day. Not with guys like Zayne Parekh ready to break through soon. If a deal isn't worked out — and it seems unlikely — he'll have to be traded before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The return that GM Craig Conroy gets could be franchise-altering, even if Andersson underperformed in 2024-25. Is it best to move him this summer if there's a good offer on the table, or give him a chance to show he's back at his best before flipping him at the deadline? Article content Article content Article content Let's assume the Flames move Andersson this summer. What does the defence look like next season? Joel Hanley had a great year for the Flames, but he's an unrestricted free agent and just makes more sense elsewhere. Getting Kevin Bahl re-signed — he's a restricted free agent — is a priority and MacKenzie Weegar is a proven No. 1. The two of them are a nice foundation. After that? Parekh is too young to play in the AHL and it would be a total waste to send him back to the OHL for another year. He's going to be around. There will be inevitable growing pains, but the sky's the limit for him. The Flames will be wanting to see more out of Jake Bean, but he's a proven NHLer and you'd expect him playing most nights, while it's a crucial year for the 27-year-old Daniil Miromanov if he wants to stick around in the NHL and Brayden Pachal provides a reliable, physical option on the third pairing. The Flames are in pretty decent shape even without Andersson, especially as they'll be hoping one or two of the guys we're about to speak about take another step and push for NHL playing time.
National Post
09-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Five reasons for Flames fans to watch the IIHF World Championship
Sure, it would be more fun to be tuning in to watch the Calgary Flames in the playoffs every second night. Article content But for anyone who has been missing seeing the local hockey heroes skate since the regular season ended last month, at least the IIHF World Championship is here. With Zayne Parekh heading back to Canada after spending the pre-tournament build-up with the national team, there are now six Flames set to participate in the annual spring tournament — and head coach Ryan Huska will be on the Canadian bench, too. Article content Here are five things to watch at the world championships: Article content We know MacKenzie Weegar was oh-so-close to earning an invite to the Canadian squad for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Article content We know he only got better down the stretch for the Flames and was one of the most important and reliable pieces of their squad as they pushed for a playoff spot. Article content So now, the question is how much a strong world championship showing would bolster his place for a spot on Canada's Olympic team in 2026? Weegar's got versatility on his side and was widely hailed as the best blueliner at the 2023 tournament when he helped lead Canada to the title. Article content He seems to like the big international ice and will have a big role to play in a d-corps that includes the likes of Travis Sanheim, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Brandon Montour and Jared Spurgeon. Article content Article content With this year's world championship being hosted by both Sweden and Denmark, it's not exactly a surprise that the Flames' Swedish contingent was eager to participate. Article content Article content Rasmus Andersson and Mikael Backlund will both be skating for their country over the next couple of weeks, while former Flames Erik Gustafsson, Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom are all slated to suit up, too. Article content Article content It's a strong squad and absolutely a front-runner to win gold in front of home fans. Article content From a Calgary perspective, there's no bigger story surrounding the Flames this summer than Andersson's future. A potential unrestricted free agent next summer, a trade would seem to be a strong possibility over the next few months. Article content On the other hand, we know the 28-year-old blueliner was playing with a broken fibula for the last 12 games of the Flames' season. He didn't look like himself out on the ice, and the tournament could provide him with an opportunity to remind people how he plays when he's healthy and at his best. Article content
