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What to make of Zayne Parekh’s absence from the Flames’ lineup
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Liam Mabley
Oct 10, 2025, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 10, 2025, 16:57 EDT
The Calgary Flames are two games into the 2025-26 NHL season, and their highest-touted prospect in almost a decade, who made the team out of camp, has yet to make his season debut.
I’m of course talking about defenceman Zayne Parekh, who has watched the Flames’ opening two-game road trip from the press box.
Head coach Ryan Huska wasn’t asked about Parekh before Calgary’s tilt against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, but he did address it prior to their game in Edmonton on Wednesday (via Flames TV):
“I think with Zayne there’s a lot of steps along the way and it’s our job is to to work him into being an everyday player and that sometimes takes time… We want to make sure that whether it’s tomorrow night or the next night, he’s ready for his opening night game. So, this gives him an opportunity to see an environment in a building that’s going to be quite a bit different from what he saw last year with us and what he’s seen in exhibition so far.”
Parekh made his NHL debut in Los Angeles against the Kings in the Flames’ final game of the 2024-25 season. He scored a goal and was a plus-three in 20:31 of ice time.
Huska went on to say this when asked about his development plan for Parekh:
“Well, I think a lot of that always falls on the player. Our plan is to make sure we’re going to put him in positions to succeed, but you also hope that the player, when he goes and plays the game, it’s like he’s never coming out again. So, that’s what you’d like to see from him and then it’s our job to make sure we work with him and continue to build his game and his confidence at this level.”
This has less to do with Parekh and more to do with the Huska and the Flames’ philosophy of sheltering young players from adversity, which is a strategy they’ve employed over and over again, most recently with Matthew Coronato and Dustin Wolf.
There are two ways of looking at it. You could say that this cautious approach is worthwhile, seeing as both Coronato and Wolf thrived last season when they were eventually unleashed. Conversely, it’s possible those players are just really good and would’ve been effective regardless of whether or not they were held out to begin last season, Wolf as the backup to Vladar and Coronato in the AHL.
Parekh’s absence from the lineup has caused quite a stir within the fanbase. Some believe in ripping the band-aid off and getting him out there, while others are inclined to trust the process. Huska and management are opting to hold him out as a way of easing him in, but there is the possibility that dragging out his debut could put even more of a microscope on him when he eventually does get into the lineup.
Looking at it from a different lens, how do you walk the line of prioritizing player development while also trying to field the best possible team on a nightly basis? Though Parekh’s game is still flawed at the age of 19, it’s difficult to make the case that Jake Bean should be in the lineup over him. Also, considering how the power play has faltered through two games, it’s hard to believe it could be any worse with the addition of Parekh.
Emphasizing player development over short-term success is wise for a rebuilding team, but what exactly that looks like obviously varies depending on who you’re talking to.
There is an expectation that Parekh will get into the lineup sooner rather than later, especially after defenceman Kevin Bahl was injured on Thursday night against the Canucks.
Parekh has now been with the team for their last 7 games, dating back to last season, but has been a healthy scratch for all but one. His next opportunity to crack the lineup will be the Flames’ home opener against the St Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon.

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