Can a 19-Year-Old Handle the Heat? Zayne Parekh in Focus

The biggest question this season is whether Zayne Parekh will make the squad. I don’t think there is any question. There is little doubt that he’s making the Calgary Flames. Well, at least not in my mind. Keep in mind, he is only 19 years old. I hope the Flames keep expectations down to keep the pressure off. Zayne has nothing to prove in the OHL; he’s done everything that was expected of him. He can’t go to college since he signed a pro contract with the Flames. Zayne has two options: either play in the NHL or return to Juniors and dominate the league with nothing to prove.

I do worry that the Calgary Flames are rushing him. He needs a mentor who can show him the lay of the land. I have two different defensemen who could do this:

Mackenzie Weegar

The clearest choice is MacKenzie Weegar. In my mind, MacKenzie is the closest to a complete defenceman on the Calgary Flames. He is definitely the leader of the defensive core. He has a physical game and plays very well on defense. Weegar is underrated in his defensive game. He has a terrific shot in the offensive game and is an excellent puck distributor. MacKenzie does not do one thing outstanding; he does everything well. The biggest obstacle in pairing MacKenzie with Weegar is putting him on the left side. I have no doubt he could adjust. I see minimal downside to this option.

Kevin Bahl

There is no doubt that Kevin could be Zayne’s mentor. Kevin is probably the best defensive defenceman on our team. He would definitely help Zayne become a better defenceman. Kevin would also cover for Zayne when he pinches in the offensive zone. The main obstacle in choosing Kevin is breaking up Rasmus and Kevin. Kevin will probably be Rasmus’s sidekick for as long as they are both on the team.

Final word

Zayne has been very good in the preseason. Unfortunately, the preseason is not equal to the regular season. Can Zayne perform in the regular season? Nobody says he can’t, but he will have a lot to learn. He is going to have to know when to pinch or not to pinch, he’s gonna have to know when to pass or shoot. He must use his speed when he gets caught up, as he pinched at the wrong times. Trust me, he is going to make mistakes. Growing pains that come with the territory of being a rookie. That being said, there will be time for him to make miraculous plays, making us wonder why we didn’t do this earlier. I suspect the good plays will outnumber the bad, and the Calgary Flames will be happy to have him on the team.