It’s becoming apparent that the Calgary Flames look to have found their powerplay quarterback of the future in Zayne Parekh. A dynamic offensive defenceman with world-class mobility who is currently breaking Bobby Orr‘s records isn’t something that comes along every day. In fact, Parekh had the most productive draft-eligible season by a defenceman since John Slaney in 1989-90. He’s shaping up to be a truly special player.
Zayne Parekh: The Next Quinn Hughes?
An Offensive Mastermind
Parekh is currently in the midst of his second record-breaking season in the OHL. After a ridiculously productive draft-eligible season that saw Zayne score 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games, he is now tracking to have one of the best offensive OHL seasons by a defenceman of all time. Through his first 59 games, Parekh has already passed last season’s totals with 33 goals and 69 assists. This puts him on a 108-point pace. That’s not something you see every day from a defenceman. The point totals are wildly impressive but the goal-scoring really stands out. Recently, Zayne hit the 30-goal mark for his second straight season, making him the first defenceman in modern OHL history to have two 30-goal seasons. This feat has only been accomplished one other time in the OHA–the OHL’s precursor–by none other than the legend, Bobby Orr. That’s some impressive company.
? Back-to-back 30-goal seasons.
Zayne Parekh just made modern OHL history—becoming the first defenseman since 1980 to record multiple 30-goal seasons! ?? pic.twitter.com/a4XkqQhr6F
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) March 2, 2025
A Stick and Skate Wizard
The most foundational piece of Zayne Parekh is his skating. Where he slightly lacks straight-line explosiveness, he makes up for with edge work and lateral mobility. There is so much deception in his game that it’s hard to predict what he will do at any moment. He constantly uses head fakes, look-offs, and his incredible four-way mobility to manipulate defenders and open up passing and shooting lanes. He is always looking to create opportunities and openings rather than waiting for them to open on their own. Parekh uses that lateral mobility to walk the line, producing new shooting and passing lanes along the way. His ability to do so rivals the likes of Makar, Hughes, and Hutson, to name a few. His offensive arsenal also includes a wickedly quick shot that with his deceptive release keeps goalies guessing.
One of the best qualities of Zayne Parekh’s game is his ability to walk the blueline and open up shooting and passing lanes.
He shows that skill on this play. pic.twitter.com/BkSz5dopKM
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) September 15, 2024
The Defensive Side
For all his offensive brilliance, Parekh’s defensive game remains a work in progress. The biggest issue thus far has been consistency. In some games, Zayne uses his strength to battle hard, being aggressive, and applying good stick details to break up plays. Other times, he gets pushed around and lacks the defensive engagement necessary. He’s prone to chasing in the defensive zone rather than staying structured; something that causes breakdowns and creates scoring chances for the other teams. A more structured approach to his defensive details must be improved if he hopes to succeed at the next level.
One downside to the offense is that Parekh can sometimes try too much with the puck. He occasionally gets carried away, completing one too many head fakes, and loses the puck in the process. Saginaw has rightfully given Zayne offensive freedom, fueling his evolution into a powerhouse, but not every team will do the same. He will need to rein in his abilities and not get carried away with the puck as much at the next level.
The Next Quinn Hughes?
Since being drafted, Quinn Hughes‘ name has been frequently used as an NHL comparable for Parekh. So how accurate is this? The truth is that Zayne Parekh is not Quinn Hughes. Sure they are both highly offensive defencemen with incredible lateral mobility, but the similarities mostly stop there. Parekh lacks a lot of the physicality and defensive instincts that Hughes possesses. That’s not to frame Hughes as some aggressively defensive stalwart, it’s just to say that Zayne isn’t that guy yet. Hughes is definitely someone that Parekh should try and model his game after though.
The biggest issue for Parekh is that if he struggles to translate the offensive totals to the NHL level, there isn’t as much to fall back on. Regardless, the sheer potential is undeniable. He has the talent to be a power-play quarterback at the NHL level, and maybe even become one of the most electrifying blueliners in the NHL. If he can sort out a few details in his game, and continue improving defensively, the Calgary Flames fans should be ecstatic about their future star.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie- Imagn Images
