Calgary Flames select defenseman Zayne Parekh with No. 9 pick in NHL Draft

The Calgary Flames landed one of the most electric talents in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft when they selected defenseman Zayne Parekh from the OHL Saginaw Spirit with the No. 9 overall pick.

Parekh was the consensus No.2 right-shot defenseman in a loaded draft for blueliners, and though No. 2 pick Artyom Levshunov was the top prize, Calgary still managed to land a potential franchise D; Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked him as the fourth-best player in the class.

The York, Ontario native might have gone even higher if not for concerns over his defensive instincts, which have not always come naturally. 

Parekh has shown a willingness to play physically, though, and if he further develops in his own zone, there’s a chance the few teams that passed on his services will live to regret it given his explosive offensive tools.

The 18-year-old’s 33-goal, 96-point eruption was the second-most productive season of any OHL defenseman in the 21st century behind Ryan Ellis’s 2010-11 effort (24 G, 101P).

Parekh’s dynamic offense did not end in the regular season. He was a key contributor in the Saginaw’s unlikely run to the Memorial Cup, notching 11 points in 13 postseason games. 

The Spirit took the Cup in an upset 4-3 win over a London Knights team featuring pro prospects like Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk, and Denver Barkey. 

As if Parekh’s team success with Saginaw wasn’t enough, he added prestigious individual hardware by becoming the first draft-eligible player to win the CHL Defenseman of the Year Award since Danny Syvret in 2005.

The Flames will likely let Parekh gestate for at least another year in the CHL before the teen is eligible to play for their minor league affiliates. When it comes time for him to join the big club, the fans in Calgary can expect to see a special puck mover.