In this week’s edition of Calgary Flames News & Rumors, Zayne Parekh has been called up from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and will be with the Flames for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, injured forward Justin Kirkland is the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. In other news, Adam Klapka is beginning to show he belongs at the NHL level, while Rory Kerins is getting back on track with the Calgary Wranglers.
Parekh Called Up
Flames fans have been over the moon about Parekh since the organization selected him ninth overall in the 2024 Draft. The 19-year-old is an offensive wizard on the back end and is coming off an excellent season with the Saginaw Spirit, scoring 33 goals and 107 points in only 61 games. Those numbers topped an already impressive 2023-24 season of 33 goals and 96 points in 66 games.
Parekh, who was recalled on Tuesday, isn’t expected to get into the lineup right away but could see some games down the stretch when or if the Flames get eliminated from playoff contention. Either way, being around an NHL team in a playoff push is good for his development, and considering his success in the OHL, Flames fans shouldn’t be surprised if he cracks the NHL roster next season.
Kirkland is Flames’ Masterton Nominee
The 2024-25 season was full of highs and lows for Justin Kirkland. The journeyman had played just nine career games before signing with the Flames last offseason and was quickly carving out an everyday role for himself as a fourth liner. Unfortunately, a torn ACL limited him to just 21 games, with two goals and eight points, while establishing himself as a major threat in shootouts.
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Given all the adversity he’s faced in his career, it’s no surprise that he was named the Flames’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy. The annual award is given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Based on that criteria, he is a worthy candidate.
Klapka Quickly Developing
It’s been a tumultuous season for Adam Klapka. Klapka earned a spot on the Flames’ opening-day roster out of training camp but found himself back in the American Hockey League (AHL) after failing to make much of an impact. He was then subject to a series of recalls and demotions, but now appears to be making the most of his recent call-up.
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Klapka, who stands at 6-foot-8, has proven during his time with the Wranglers that he has offensive upside. Now, that’s starting to come to life with the Flames. The 24-year-old has three goals and five points over his last eight outings after recording just one goal through his first 16 games. He’s beginning to use his size to his advantage and is giving both fans and the Flames organization hope that he can become a regular fourth-liner at the NHL level or even a top-nine forward.
Kerins Heating Up
Early in the 2024-25 season, no AHL player was hotter than Rory Kerins. The 22-year-old was scoring at will for the Wranglers, leaving the Flames with no choice but to call him up in early January. The call-up was a success, as he registered four assists in five games before being sent back to the minors.
After being sent back down, Kerins and the entire Wranglers team struggled to continue their success. That’s changed for Kerins as of late, however. The young forward is riding a four-game point streak with five goals and two assists. He’s now up to 32 goals and 58 points in 59 games and is a dark horse to crack the Flames roster next season.
Looking Ahead for the Flames
The Flames continue to be in the playoff hunt, trailing the Minnesota Wild by four points for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They’ll look to tighten the gap tonight versus the Anaheim Ducks before returning home to face off against the Wild in a huge game on Friday. They will end their week with a Sunday matinee against the San Jose Sharks.
