The Calgary Flames’ two 2024 first-round draft picks both scored their first goals in an NHL sweater in Monday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Penticton YoungStars Classic.
Matvei Gridin, the Flames’ second pick in the draft back in June, opened the scoring just before the midway mark of the first period at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Monday. The 6’1″ right wing received a nifty pass from defenceman Étienne Morin in the offensive zone and fired a quick snap shot from the high slot that cleanly beat Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo.
The Flames originally selected Gridin at No. 28 overall in this year’s draft, using the first-round pick they acquired from the Vancouver Canucks as part of the Elias Lindholm trade. The Kurgan, Russia product collected 38 goals and 83 points in 60 games with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 2023-24 regular season.
Just one minute later, star defence prospect Zayne Parekh added a goal of his own to give the Flames a 2-0 lead.
With the Flames controlling the puck in the offensive zone, Jaden Lipinski found Parekh at his natural right defence position with tons of open ice in front of him. The 6′ defender took full advantage of the free space, walking in and firing a high shot past Tolopilo.
The 18-year-old Parekh led all Ontario Hockey League defencemen with 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games with the Saginaw Spirit during the 2023-24 regular season, tacking on two goals and 11 points in 13 playoff contests. The Flames subsequently picked Parekh with the No. 9 overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Flames allowed the Canucks to score four consecutive goals to take a lead of their own before finally putting a stop to the bleeding early on in the third period, and Gridin played a part in it once again.
This time, it was 2023 first-round pick Sam Honzek who capitalized on a nifty feed by Gridin, who sent him in all alone on Tolopilo. Honzek ended up slipping the puck through the goaltender’s legs to make it a 4-3 game, giving Gridin an assist in the process.
After selecting both Parekh and Gridin in this year’s first round, the Flames are slated to make multiple picks in both the first rounds of the 2025 and 2026 drafts. They also possess multiple picks in the 2025 second round and the 2026 third round.