CALGARY — Zayne Parekh will be in the lineup when the Calgary Flames' season opens Thursday, marking a vastly different scenario than the one a year earlier when he was a healthy scratch.

Unlike last season, when the highly touted first-rounder was sheltered following a poor pre-season, Parekh enters this season as the player fans and management are most excited to see.

A rigorous off-season with workout guru Gary Roberts, followed by a dynamic pre-season, appears to have the bulked-up defenceman back on track, and positioned to be one of the biggest feel-good stories of the upcoming season.

“It’s been night and day from last year to now,” admitted the 20-year-old freewheeler, who has regained the confidence he lost through a nightmarish rookie season that included injury and plenty of press-box popcorn.

“I feel like a completely different player. Just the strength and the work I put in this summer has really helped me.”

When he’s at his best, like he was at the world juniors last Christmas, he’s a whirling dervish, who circles around the offensive zone making plays like he owns the place.

Heading into a rebuilding season in which there promises to be extensive short-term pain for long-term gain, Parekh headlines the list of good stories Flames fans can focus on.

32 Thoughts: The PodcastHockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.Latest episode

32 Thoughts: The Podcast

Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

Here are a handful of others:

The Saddledome will play host to its 44th and final season as home of the Flames, prompting a season-long celebration sure to stir up all sorts of memories fans have of the iconic building.

The organization promises to take fans through an extensive trip down memory lane, saluting the........

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