The Calgary Flames suffered a double blow on Friday night as they were shut out 4-0 by the Chicago Blackhawks and lost top prospect Zayne Parekh to a concerning injury after a heavy hit from Nick Foligno.
Parekh's Painful Exit
The 19-year-old defenseman, selected ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, left the game at Scotiabank Saddledome after being crushed into the boards by Foligno. The hit occurred during the second period, with Parekh immediately showing signs of distress as he skated directly to the bench.
Television cameras captured the blue-chip prospect grimacing while touching his shoulder area before retreating to the locker room. He did not return to the game, leaving the Flames to finish without one of their most promising young players.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska confirmed the seriousness of the situation post-game, stating, "He's going to miss a little bit of time. I don't know the extent of it yet, but we'll find out more tomorrow."
Team Frustration Boils Over
The injury to Parekh compounded an already frustrating night for the Flames, who were completely shut down by the Blackhawks. The loss prompted veteran defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to call out what he described as "passengers" on the team - players not pulling their weight.
Chicago's victory was powered by goals from Tyler Bertuzzi and Connor Bedard, who combined to beat Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf throughout the contest. The Blackhawks controlled the game from start to finish, leaving the home team searching for answers.
The timing couldn't be worse for Parekh's development. The Flames had just decided last week to keep him with the NHL club full-time instead of returning him to junior hockey, signaling their confidence in his readiness for professional competition.
Development Concerns and Next Steps
Parekh's injury represents a significant setback for both the player and the organization. Through 12 games this season, he had recorded one assist while adapting to the speed and physicality of the NHL. His development has been identified as one of the Flames' top priorities during their ongoing retooling process.
Coach Huska noted that learning to handle physical play has been part of Parekh's adjustment. "I think it's probably getting used to the speed a little bit too," Huska explained. "That guys close quite a bit quicker than what he's used to and then understanding how to put your body into a different position so you're not taking such heavy hits."
The Flames do have defensive options available. The team currently carries eight defensemen after recently recalling Yan Kuznetsov from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers. Kevin Bahl was unavailable for Friday's game but isn't expected to be out long-term.
Another potential replacement could be Hunter Brzustewicz, who has been performing well with the Wranglers and is considered to have high potential. However, none of these options carry the same excitement level as Parekh, who has become a beacon of hope for Flames fans during a challenging season.
The organization and its supporters will anxiously await updates on Parekh's condition, hoping the injury isn't as serious as it appeared during Friday's disappointing loss.
