The Calgary Flames have provided an update on the status of their prized rookie defenceman, Zayne Parekh, clarifying that his recent absence from the lineup is due to injury and not a coaching decision.
Parekh's Injury Status Confirmed
The Flames announced on Thursday that 19-year-old Zayne Parekh is considered "day-to-day" with an upper-body injury. The organization was quick to point out that this is a legitimate health issue, countering speculation on social media that his previous scratches were healthy ones.
Parekh sustained the injury while representing Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis. The promising young rearguard had a spectacular tournament, setting a new Canadian record for defencemen with 13 points.
A Season of Limited Action
This latest setback adds to what has been a season of limited NHL exposure for the highly-touted prospect. Parekh has appeared in only 11 games for the Flames so far this season. Before his loan to the World Juniors, he was already sidelined for a five-week stretch due to a separate injury.
Flames fans, eager to see if his world junior scoring prowess can translate to the NHL, will have to wait. Parekh missed Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens and will also be unavailable for Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins. The team has not provided a specific timetable for his return.
Positive News on Martin Pospisil
In other Flames injury news, there was an encouraging sign for forward Martin Pospisil. The 26-year-old Slovak was named to his country's initial roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, a selection that signals optimism about his recovery.
Pospisil has not played this season after being injured during exhibition action in the fall. While he did not travel with the team on their current five-game road trip, the Flames are hopeful he can return to practice in the near future.
Miroslav Satan, president of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation, indicated they have been closely monitoring Pospisil's progress. Via translation, Satan expressed confidence that Pospisil will "play a few games before he comes to the Olympics."
The Flames and their fans will be closely watching the recovery timelines for both Parekh and Pospisil as the team navigates the middle of its schedule.
