Flames open camp with Parekh, roster turnover and a rebuild

Calgary's rebuild already has an audience. A crowd of 9,000 turned out Monday for the Flames' prospects game as interest shifts toward the young players expected to lead the franchise into Scotia Place.

Main camp opens with attention on Zayne Parekh's strength and continued development. The defenceman's rookie season included injuries and confidence issues, and Calgary asked him to add weight to a six-foot-one, 179-pound frame that absorbed too much punishment.

General manager Craig Conroy said Parekh is "not huge" but clearly looks stronger after the summer. Parekh was selected ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He regained some of his swagger late last season after representing Canada at the world junior championship.

Under the previous CBA rules, Parekh could not be assigned to the AHL beyond a conditioning stint. Sportsnet reported that Calgary likely would have preferred significant AHL time for him last season. This camp will help determine whether the 20-year-old can move higher on the NHL depth chart and earn a larger power-play role.

The roster around him has changed. Simon Nemec, Jake Middleton and Maxim Tsyplakov are among the additions, while Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta are gone. Brennan Othmann remains unsigned. Calgary has 12 defencemen with NHL experience in camp, leaving several likely to start the season in the minors.

Alex Nylander, 28, is in on a professional tryout after scoring 24 goals for the AHL's Toronto Marlies last season. Conroy had been reluctant to add outside competition because he wanted young forwards to have room, but Calgary still needs more scoring.

Jonathan Huberdeau will not begin camp on the ice with the main group. He is about seven months removed from hip resurfacing surgery, a procedure that can require up to nine months of recovery, and has no firm return date. The plan is for individual skating and work with coaches until he is ready to join the team.

The Flames also plan to name another alternate captain alongside Huberdeau. Joel Farabee and Zach Whitecloud are the candidates to assist captain Mikael Backlund. Morgan Frost, Ryan Strome and Backlund are set at centre, with Martin Pospisil, Connor Zary, Tyson Gross and Jonathan Castagna competing for the remaining work down the middle.