‘I’m Having Enjoyable Once more’ | Calgary Flames

It’s been shut to a few months since he final suited up, however tonight, the C of Red will get to see its prized prospect within the flesh as soon as once more.

Defenceman Zayne Parekh couldn’t cover his smile when requested about returning to the lineup tonight, as his Flames put together to face the Maple Leafs on the Scotiabank Saddledome. GET TICKETS

It’s been a 12 months of studying on the professional stage for Parekh. Limited to 11 video games, and sidelined – on the NHL stage – since early November, he’s able to show himself as soon as once more. And Monday morning on the group’s pre-game skate, he was entrance and centre on one in every of Calgary’s two powerplay items, quarterbacking the drills as if he’d simply gotten again on his Schwinn for a rip across the neighbourhood.

Amid his absence, there’s been loads of work put in. With a three-time Stanley Cup champion serving to information Parekh and his younger defence colleagues serving to them alongside.

Brent Seabrook joined the Flames participant growth workers final summer season, and he was on the ice with Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz and a handful of different younger stars Sunday at WinSport.

There’s loads of teaching, loads of dialog.

Even if typically, he’s left in awe at what the subsequent era is ready to do.

“I think the skill level’s a lot different in some of these younger players,” Seabrook commented in a dialog Sunday. “The method they’re in a position to have a confidence with the puck and the stuff they’re in a position to do with the puck is fairly particular. You did not actually see that again within the day.

“You didn’t see the skill, the offensive-type defencemen. You saw a lot more bigger, heavier, physical guys, so it’s a little bit different that way.”

Day over day, week over week, Seabrook has seen progress.

And sport by sport, the Flames kids are beginning to make their mark. Be it Parekh, who scored in his NHL debut within the 2024-25 season finale, Brzustewicz, who scored his first NHL objective towards the Ducks simply over per week in the past, and even ahead Matvei Gridin, who let unfastened an absolute snipe towards the Sharks Saturday and is ready to signify the group on the AHL All-Star Classic later this month.

“I’m pumped for them, to see them have success. I mean, those guys, they work hard,” stated Seabrook. “When I’m on the ice, they make my job straightforward, They pay attention, they work arduous; in the event that they attempt to do the stuff that we speak about, whether or not it is watching clips or getting just a little little bit of one-on-one time.

“It’s special for me to be out there and try and help, and it’s awesome to see them grow as players, and get opportunities, and do what they do.”