Fresh off his notable NHL debut, Calgary Flames first-round draft pick Zayne Parekh exudes confidence, declaring his readiness to earn a spot with the team this upcoming season. The young defenseman recently reflected on his journey, including a lighthearted moment after the final game of last season when veteran teammates MacKenzie Weegar and Mikael Backlund teased him for wearing athletic pants to a team dinner, prompting a promise to buy jeans.
Parekh revisited the denim anecdote at the Flames` development camp, admitting he still hadn`t acquired any jeans despite the friendly pressure. “I`ve gotta go (get some). Eventually, I`m going to have to. Probably best to get it done now,” he quipped, highlighting how even small details of the ninth overall pick`s actions are noticed.
Beyond fashion choices, the more significant question is whether Parekh will be a roster fit for the Flames this fall. When asked if he felt better equipped compared to his first camp last year, the confident Saginaw star smiled and affirmed his belief. “I mean, if I didn`t, I wouldn`t probably believe in myself,” he stated, recalling his initial camp experience where he felt “humbled” and somewhat overwhelmed, attributing it to limited preparation time and nervousness about making errors.
This time around, he feels more prepared. His late-season call-up provided a ten-day taste of the big league, including scoring a goal in his debut, making him one of the youngest defensemen in NHL history to achieve that feat. “I got a little grasp of it, so hopefully that`ll help,” Parekh said, indicating the valuable lessons learned during his brief NHL stint have solidified his confidence and understanding of what it takes to play at that level.
