CALGARY — When final we noticed Zayne Parekh, he was off to the mall to purchase denims.
Ridden onerous by MacKenzie Weegar and Mikael Backlund for attending a late-season dinner in joggers, the Flames first-rounder punctuated his rousing NHL debut within the remaining regular-season recreation by promising to sprint out for denim.
Symbolic of simply what number of eyes are on the defenceman’s each transfer since being drafted ninth total final summer season, a trouser replace one way or the other appeared acceptable Wednesday at WinSport, following the opening day of Flames’ growth camp.
“I really went to the mall to purchase some. I used to be going to get gown sneakers too, and I simply didn’t get a factor,” chuckled Parekh, who astounded Flames mates by insisting he’s by no means owned denims.
“I’ve gotta go (get some). Ultimately, I’m going to must. Most likely greatest to get it executed now.”
Whether or not he will get sized up for a pair of Wranglers in time for Stampede, the extra pertinent query round these components is whether or not he’ll be a match for the Flames this fall.
Requested if he felt higher geared up than final 12 months to stay with the massive membership, the uber-confident Saginaw star smiled.
“I imply, if I did not, I would not most likely consider in myself,” stated Parekh, who left his first coaching camp in Calgary “humbled” earlier than being despatched down for one more stellar junior marketing campaign.
“I did not have a whole lot of time final 12 months to arrange for camp, and I used to be in over my head. Particularly whenever you’re sort of nervous and, [thinking] ‘hopefully I do not mess up or make a mistake,’ you are sort of attracting these ideas, and it is gonna come.
“So, I feel this time round, I am extra assured. I imply, I received a style on the finish, I perceive sort of what it takes to play within the NHL. I received just a little grasp of it, so hopefully that’ll assist.”
Certainly, he did get a style, changing into the sixth-youngest defender in NHL historical past to attain in his NHL debut, capping a late-season call-up with the membership that gave him ten days of big-league expertise.
That, mixed together with his second-straight 30-goal season in Saginaw, served as a motivator and confidence-builder for a younger man who is nearly a shoo-in to start out this fall with the Flames, given he’s too younger to play within the AHL and too good to return to the OHL.
“I feel there was a chance (to make the Flames) final 12 months too, however I wasn’t prepared for it,” stated Parekh, who punctuated his junior playoff ousting with the one-game Flames exhibiting, adopted by some exhibition motion abroad with Canada on the world championship.
“Being across the guys final 12 months, I sort of realized I am meant for this, I belong. And I seen that sort of within the first couple days of working towards with them, it wasn’t an excessive amount of to deal with or something. I slot in. And also you’ve received to go from becoming in, to sort of taking one other step there, being a man that drives tempo.
“Clearly I am nonetheless younger, and it will include time.”
Targeted on spending his summer season including muscle to his six-foot, 179-pound body, Parekh additionally demonstrated his a lot deeper, cerebral aspect by speaking brazenly about his need to enhance himself away from the rink.
“It has been a tricky month for me off the ice, sort of simply reinventing myself as an individual, making an attempt to be a man I wish to have dinner with,” stated Parekh, who graduated highschool at age 16 and took on-line programs on the College of Toronto at age 17.
“Engaged on myself off the ice, I feel, is basically vital, and one thing I am taking actually severe.
“You’ve simply sort of received to continue to grow as an individual. I feel for me it is fully other than hockey, and it is not even near having something to do with hockey, however studying the way to talk with individuals higher, and listening.
“Everybody may work on it, and I feel it has given me one thing to do over the previous month or so.”
Some fairly profound introspection from a lad in his teenagers.
“Yeah, I imply, whenever you do some self-reflection, and a few issues occur, it is higher to be taught younger than sort of develop up and have to vary these issues after I’m 35,” he stated.
Changing into simply the second OHL defenceman in league lore since Bobby Orr to publish back-to-back 30-goal seasons, Parekh is probably the most thrilling prospect in a corporation that continues to emphasise its renewed youth motion.
With Rasmus Andersson on his means out of city through commerce someday between now and the commerce deadline, much more room is about to open up for the right-shooting native of Markham, Ont.
And the truth that he rebounded from a tricky exhibiting with a 33-goal, 107-point season in 61 video games, to not point out his Flames debut, has Calgary director of participant growth, Ray Edwards, all smiles.
“He discovered a lot from that have, after which coming in on the finish and being round all people for that time period after which enjoying a recreation, his confidence stage is excessive,” stated Edwards, overseeing the workforce’s prime 24 prospects as they spent the primary of two days skating at WinSport Wednesday.
“He had an incredible exhibiting on the worlds, too, so he has each motive to be ok with his recreation.”
