Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
The Calgary Flames proceed trying to find solutions, and the Calgary Wranglers are a giant a part of that equation.
After being out of motion all season, ahead Martin Pospisil got here to the Wranglers on a conditioning project and performed his two video games over the weekend. Star rookie ahead Matvei Gridin, an AHL All-Star decide final week, picked up one other promotion to the Flames. William Strömgren got here again to the Wranglers after making his NHL debut on Jan. 7.
After which there was one of many Flames’ greatest selections. They despatched 19-year-old defenseman Zayne Parekh to the Wranglers on a conditioning mortgage.
Parekh’s resume is unquestionably a multi-pager. Earlier than he even got here to the Flames because the ninth general decide within the 2024 NHL Draft, he received prime defenseman honors from each the Ontario Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League in 2023-24. That very same season he received the Memorial Cup with Saginaw, recorded 33 targets, and completed with 96 factors. One other 33 targets and 107 factors got here final season with Saginaw to guide all OHL defensemen.
Parekh made his NHL debut final Apr. 17 and scored a aim, then made the Flames’ opening-night roster this fall.
However he appeared in solely 11 video games earlier than being sidelined for a month. He was activated off injured reserve in time to affix Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championship, the place he picked up 13 factors in seven video games to assist Canada safe a bronze medal.
However he nonetheless hadn’t performed a professional sport since Nov. 7. So the Flames despatched him to the Wranglers to get a lot wanted ice time. He was within the lineup Sunday towards Bakersfield, enjoying the fitting aspect of a defensive pairing with Nick Cicek and dealing on the ability play. The Wranglers picked up a degree in a 1-0 additional time loss to ship them into a comparatively quiet work week till Laval arrives this weekend.
Parekh admitted after the sport that he felt “not nice,” however that’s to be anticipated for somebody who had not performed a professional sport in additional than two months.
Head coach Brett Sutter, nonetheless, got here away inspired along with his newest addition.
“I believed he acquired somewhat higher as he went,” Sutter mentioned. “I feel he nonetheless must play the sport somewhat sooner.”
That’s the way it goes generally within the AHL. Growth isn’t at all times a clear, direct and easy course of. Making ready prospects for NHL alternatives entails loads of trial-and-error till they get it proper. Sutter, who performed 1,090 AHL video games himself, has confidence in that course of.
“He’ll proceed to get higher right here each day,” Sutter added. “He’ll be simply superb. He’ll be higher subsequent sport.”
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally presently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a daily contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
