Calgary Flames players not happy with Parekh's recent comments: report
Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh has been garnering a ton of attention at the World Junior Championship.
Parekh, who has appeared in 11 games with the Flames this season, was loaned to Team Canada to try to get some confidence back in his game. He had struggled in the lineup with the Flames, registering just one assist.
The choice to loan Parekh has been wise, as the 19-year-old is showing what made him the ninth-overall selection in 2024. Through six games, he’s managed five goals and 11 points and is seemingly getting his confidence back both on and off the ice.
Last week, Parekh was quite open and honest about how frustrating this season has been for him. He referred to NHL players as “robotic” and suggested that several individuals with the Flames have told him to give “really simple answers” when speaking with the media.
Zayne Parekh on why he's comfortable showing his personality to the media.
Was the Calgary Flames defenceman loaned to Canada's world junior team inspired by seeing other athletes do the same? pic.twitter.com/dAuUrWHqXV
— Joshua Clipperton (@JClipperton_CP) January 1, 2026
Those comments generated some steam online, and reportedly didn’t sit too well with the Flames organization as a whole.
“From what I understand, no, his teammates weren’t thrilled,” Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg said on Flames Talk over the weekend. “I don’t think they’re offended or anything like that. I don’t think they’re going to shun him.
I think instead they’re going to come back, give it to him a little bit and say, ‘Hey, here’s why you don’t say that going forward, but you’re still our teammate and we still want to build you up.'”
This entire ordeal has resulted in a variety of opinions from Flames fans. Some agree that his comments were of poor taste, while others are frustrated that the organization is trying to hide his personality.
Regardless of which side you are on, the good news here is that while the comments didn’t seem to sit well with the organization, it’s nothing that they won’t be able to move past.
Parekh and his Canadian teammates have one more game remaining at the World Juniors, which will come on Monday afternoon as they look to win bronze in a game versus Finland.
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