Flames takeaways: Who stood out during development camp scrimmage?

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The stands at WinSport were filling up before the Calgary Flames-of-the-future even hit the ice for warmups, resulting in a standing-room-only crowd for Saturday’s development camp scrimmage.

If you were among the stragglers, a seat isn’t all you missed out on.

On his first shift, prized defence prospect Zayne Parekh — the ninth-overall pick last weekend in the 2024 NHL Draft — dazzled the crowd with a spin-o-rama, behind-the-back, right-on-the-tape pass to fellow blue-liner Artem Grushnikov.

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Although Grushnikov was stopped on the shot, the ooohs and ahhhs still echoed throughout the rink.

“I know this is a hockey town, and there was no doubt today about that,” Parekh said afterward. “For me, it even backs that more. It was nice having people out and not having empty stands to scrimmage, because that would have been very deflating.

“Especially with the Stampede going on … I mean, there’s probably a couple people that had some late nights and to see them come out and support us, it speaks wonders about the fans.”

The 18-year-old Parekh, starting with that highlight-reel feed in the opening minute, made sure it was worth their while.

On his second shift, he buried a blocker-side sizzler — the first of 17 combined goals from Team Crisp and Team MacNeil in Saturday’s Snowy Cup. By about 10:15 a.m., they could have flicked off the lights and as the spectators filed back into the summer sun, they would have been raving about what they’d just witnessed from the kid in No. 89.

“For him to score the first goal to kick it off, that was fun,” beamed Flames general manager Craig Conroy when asked about Parekh. “We’ve been talking about the skill, and these guys showed it today. It’s impressive. It was fun to watch. The poor goalies … I really felt bad for the goalies.”

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While Parekh will likely spend one more winter with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, he only upped the excitement level in his first camp with the Flames.

This first-round pick flashed all the traits that the scouts have been gushing about — creativity with the puck, elite vision and passing ability and just the right amount of swagger. During his stay, he also inked an entry-level contract. Asked what he was thinking as he scribbled his signature, this answer tells you a lot about the young man.

“That it’s not enough for me, honestly,” Parekh said. “As special as it is and as privileged as I am, I want more. It’s a good place to start obviously, but I want to win a lot of things in this league and hopefully go far in a lot of playoff runs. I think I’m getting ahead of myself a little bit … ”

Maybe so, but with the way he performed in Saturday’s scrimmage, you can bet he’s not the only one.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

William Stromgren was the most polished player at prospect camp, another positive sign in the progression of this 21-year-old left-winger.

There were some growing pains for Stromgren last fall as this skilled Swede transitioned to the smaller ice surface, but he emerged as a go-to guy for the Wranglers in the second half of the rookie campaign.

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Stromgren looked this week at WinSport like a take-charge type. He also looked like a guy who could soon be a call-up candidate.

“I thought he was, from last year (at development camp) to the end of the season, the guy who took by far the biggest strides,” said Conroy, who has repeatedly stressed that there is opportunity available for youngsters but that they won’t be rushed to the top level. “You watch him, with the confidence he has out here and what he’s doing, it doesn’t even look like the same player. If he continues to do that, I could see him getting NHL games, for sure.”

When the GM is talking like that, you’re definitely on the right track.

The Flames have plenty of up-and-coming wingers, a list that includes the likes of Matt Coronato, Sam Honzek and Jakob Pelletier, but Stromgren is arguably as skilled as any of ’em and will only become more effective as he hangs some extra weight on his 6-foot-3 frame.

“How I finished last season, that’s how I want to start,” Stromgren said. “Finishing strong is also really good for the summer. I have that confidence still. I took some time off the ice and then I had even more motivation to get on the ice here with the boys. So you get more motivated. Of course, you want to see what’s next. But at the same time, you want to take it day-by-day and just try to push it every day and see what happens.”

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SCRIMMAGE SNAPSHOTS

Luke Misa, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, was among Saturday’s standouts. The speedy forward was the leading point-producer this past season for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads and flashed his soft hands with a Snowy Cup hat-trick, including a sequence where he pickpocketed a defenceman and quickly capitalized. “You just try to take every skate as an opportunity to showcase yourself,” Misa said. “So I was just trying to do all that I could out there, and I was really happy with how I played” … With the Flames thin on centre depth, could Sam Morton make a case for a big-league look? The college free-agent signing potted a pair Saturday, although you expect a 24-year-old to stand out in this crowd … Hunter Brzustewicz was the OHL’s top setup man in 2023-24, racking up 79 assists from the Kitchener Rangers’ blue-line, but what was especially noticeable Saturday was his willingness to attack the slot. “I just try to use what’s open,” said the 19-year-old Brzustewicz, who’ll soon start his pro climb with the Wranglers. “The middle of the ice is the best place to be, so if that’s open, I’m going there. Obviously a scrimmage is not as structured as it would be in the season, but hopefully I can implement that in my game even more” … Aydar Suniev earned a loud roar with a cheeky shootout goal. The 19-year-old left-winger — heading into his sophomore campaign with the NCAA’s UMass Minutemen — faked a shot and poked a one-hander through Zach Pelletier’s five-hole … Joni Jurmo is a superb skater, period. And for a guy who stands 6-foot-5 and tips the scales at 210 pounds, he’s especially fluid. If he can silence questions about his hockey sense and decision-making, he has an intriguing took-kit … Hang on, isn’t Axel Hurtig supposed to be a stay-at-home defenceman? Hurtig, who is moving from Sweden to workhorse with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, had a pair of pretty assists and buried one of his own. Especially eye-pleasing was his one-touch pass to Stromgren on an offensive rush … Honzek, who had rotten luck with injuries last season, missed the tail-end of the scrimmage because of a cut that required stitches. Can this kid catch a break? “Now, hopefully, he’s going to be healthy moving forward,” Conroy said.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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