After being a spectator for a couple games, the Calgary Flames’ most promising prospect is expected to play in his 10th game of the 2025-26 season on Sunday night, reaching a critical contractual milestone.

Per a report from Sportsnet’s Derek Wills, defenceman Zayne Parekh is expected to dress for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Parekh playing in 10 games this season is important because it means that 2025-26 becomes locked-in as the first season of his entry-level deal, which will now expire following the 2027-28 season with Parekh as a restricted free agent.

First, some background. Parekh was selected ninth overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft. Since he was drafted from the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit, part of the Canadian Hockey League, he’s not eligible to play full-time in the American Hockey League until his 20-year-old season, 2026-27.

Parekh signed his entry-level contract with the Flames when he was 18 years old, which allows his contract to “slide” for up to two seasons unless he plays in 10 NHL games in a season. For those unfamiliar with the CBA’s slew of weird rules, a contract slide essentially means that the clock on their three year contract doesn’t begin to run until they’re playing pro hockey. If you sign when you’re 18 you can get two slide years and if you sign at 19 you can get one. The clock starts to run in your 20-year-old season or when you play 10 NHL games in a season, whichever comes first.

These two factors combined for a pretty unique Catch-22 for Parekh’s development. After a pair of absolutely outstanding offensive seasons in the OHL – he had 33 goals and 96 points in 2023-24 and 33 goals and 107 points in 2024-25 – there’s nothing left for him to accomplish in major junior. But pro hockey is tough, especially when your team is struggling, and so Parekh hasn’t had the success that was hoped for him thus far in his early NHL tenure with the Flames. But with the AHL not an option, there was reportedly some hand-wringing regarding what to do with Parekh, but evidently that was short-lived.

Parekh’s entry-level deal beginning to toll does not mean that the Flames cannot send him back to the OHL. However, it does seem like an indication that they’re willing to work through the growing pains of a really promising young player learning to play in the best league in the world.

The Flames close out their four game road trip on Sunday night against the Flyers.

This article is a presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the industry-leading 10-year, 160,000-kilometre powertrain warranty. Check out their showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca.