"Why not Dickinson" " Unbelievable W": Fans divided as Zayne Parekh gets drafted by Calgary Flames at 2024 NHL draft

NHL fans on social media were divided in their views regarding the Calgary Flames' selection of high-scoring defenseman Zayne Parekh with the No. 9 overall in the 2024 NHL draft at Sphere in Las Vegas on Friday. Parekh is coming off an outstanding season, setting a remarkable record for a draft-eligible OHL defenseman.

Parekh concluded the 2023–24 season by accumulating 96 points and 33 goals, marking the highest achievement by any OHL defenseman since 1990. With his addition, the Flames have bolstered their rebuilding efforts.

However, fans on X/Twitter had mixed reactions to Calgary's decision:

"WHY NOT DICKINSON"

One fan joined the conversation and expressed their contentment with the selection, tweeting:

"Unbelievable W for you guys"

"sucks Catton and Tij were picked, but this is a great player," one fan posted.

Here are some of the other top reactions on X.

"Gonna be about 3-4 years before he plays for us. Dont see him making the transition quickly. He’s not very big, but skilled. We need Conny to do more, hopeful he can move up and draft a C like Helenius," another fan chimed in.

"You have picked a rookie of the year candidate. Z has been a treat to watch in the ohl," another fan commented.

"Didn’t think they’d do it but big time offensive flair guy. What we need. If he can even get to average defensively we’re laughing," posted one X user.

Zayne Parekh joins Flames' pool of solid prospects

2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft - First Round (Image Credit: Getty Images)

The Calgary Flames made a strategic move by selecting defenseman Zayne Parekh in the draft. Despite his smaller stature at 6 feet and 178 pounds, Parekh's defensive skills are widely considered top-notch, and he is a dynamic, game-changing offensive defenseman.

He now joins a Flames roster rich in defensive prospects. Hunter Brzustewicz, acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in a recent trade, stands out among the promising talents on the defensive end. Moreover, the Flames boast other solid prospects like Jeremie Poirier, Etienne Morin and Ilya Solovyov on the blue line.

Zayne Parekh received the CHL Defenseman of the Year Award for his impressive season. To cap off his achievements, he won the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit.