Why Flames plan to manage Parekh carefully even after impressive return

Because as good as he looked Monday night against the Maple Leafs, he won’t be playing all 27 games the rest of the way.

That’s not speculation. That’s straight from Ryan Huska, who told Sportsnet the 19‑year‑old will be on a schedule for the remainder of the season — a load‑management plan designed to protect a still‑growing defenceman from a punishing stretch that includes 16 games in March alone.

So yes, Parekh was impressive. Yes, he looked like the most confident version of himself we’ve seen. And yes, he earned Huska’s trust to the point he was thrown over the boards in the final two minutes of a one-goal game with the Flames’ goalie pulled.

But no, he will not be in the lineup every night.

And Flames fans need to brace themselves for that reality, resisting the urge to light up social media with suggestions that a healthy scratch here or there is punitive.

On Monday, the kid played much more like the ninth overall pick fans hoped to see. From his first shift, Parekh looked like a player who had rediscovered his swagger — the same swagger that made him such a tantalizing prospect before a first half full of injuries and frustration was turned around by stints at the world juniors, and in an AHL conditioning stint.

“That’s kind of the best I felt all year,” said Parekh, following a night in which he earned increased ice time in every period, totalling 20:05 by the end of a 4-2 loss.

“It’s crazy what some confidence can do for you.”

He wasn’t exaggerating. He moved the puck with authority. He broke plays out cleanly. He showed patience in the offensive zone. He didn’t force pucks or panic under pressure. And he looked like he belonged in the moment when Huska tapped him for the six‑on‑five.

“My first game back in three months, and I was out there on the six‑on‑five,” he said.

“I think Husk kind of liked the way I played. I tried to play my hardest and play the right way, and I guess you get rewarded.”

“I thought Zayne played well tonight,” said the coach.

“He looked comfortable with the puck. And that’s where he’s going to be paid for, those situations late in games.”

Nazem Kadri saw the same thing.

“You can always tell with a young player, the more they hang onto the puck, the more their confidence grows,” Kadri said of the young man who did well to send six shots towards the net, with five being blocked.   

“I liked his game tonight, especially toward the end.”

But here’s the part Flames fans won’t like: none of this changes the plan.

Huska made it clear Parekh’s usage will be carefully managed.

Not because of mistakes, as the Flames are committed to letting him play through those. And not because of the opponent. 

The only factor is protecting a 19‑year‑old who is still undersized and still adjusting to the rigours of the NHL.

This is not punishment. It’s long‑term thinking.

Parekh has already been through a lot this season with injury rehab, the world juniors, and four AHL games that Huska said showed clear progression.

The Flames want that confident, assertive, and growing version of Parekh, not a fatigued, overwhelmed version that can emerge when a teenager is thrown into the deep end of an NHL schedule.

Parekh acknowledged just how demanding that schedule is.

“It’s just a really busy schedule,” he said.

“These guys are grinding. Nothing’s given, you’ve got to earn it every day.”

After Wednesday’s game against the Oilers, Parekh and the Flames will get a few weeks off for the Olympic break.

“For Zayne, the most important thing during the break is to take a couple days,” Huska said. “But everything for him is about getting stronger, putting on size, putting on weight. He’ll have a lot of time with (Flames strength guru) Ricky (Davis) when he gets back.”

So what does success look like for Parekh the rest of the way?

“You want to see a player gaining confidence at this level,” Huska said.

“And you want to see a player who understands the areas he has to work on. Sometimes what he does off the ice is as important as what he does on it.”

Monday night was a glimpse of what he can be, a shifty, confident puck‑mover who can create much-needed offence, and handle defensive pressure.

But it was also a reminder that development isn’t linear.

There will be nights he plays 20 minutes. There will be nights he sits. And fans shouldn’t lose their minds when that happens.

Because if the Flames manage this right, Parekh won’t just be a good young defenceman.

He’ll be a franchise one.

And that’s worth protecting.