Connor Zary’s name is already floating in trade chatter, and the fit in Calgary looks shakier by the day.
The Flames are reportedly hoping to land a second-round pick and move on from the 24-year-old Saskatoon native, a possibility that stings for a fan base that once saw him as a core piece of the future. Zary came into the league and flashed immediately, teaming with Nazem Kadri and Martin Pospisil in a lively rookie season that produced 14 goals and 20 assists.
Then came the setbacks. In his next year, Zary was hit by two freak knee injuries, one involving Anaheim’s Drew Helleson and the other Dallas’s Mikko Rantanen.
Even so, he still managed 13 goals and 14 assists in his sophomore campaign. Last season, though, the production flattened out: 12 goals and 13 assists in 74 games, with most of his time spent on the third and fourth lines.
That drop-off has fueled the idea that Zary wants a fresh start. The rumor, though unconfirmed, is that he’s unhappy in Calgary and would like out. Given how his role has been handled, it’s not hard to see why that possibility has taken hold.
A big part of the frustration centers on usage. Zary is a natural center, but Ryan Huska and the Flames staff never really gave him that runway.
Instead, he spent much of his time buried down the lineup while second-line opportunities went to an aging Mikael Backlund. For a club that has spent years searching for a true number one center, the decision to keep Zary from getting a real look there stands out.
The “injury-prone” label has also followed him, but that feels overstated. The back-to-back knee injuries clearly interrupted his momentum, and his game never fully bounced back after that, but the idea that he can’t stay healthy doesn’t hold up based on the source material.
There’s also a familiar warning sign here for Flames fans. Calgary has seen this movie before with Sam Bennett, who was traded to the Florida Panthers in April 2021 for a second-round pick and the draft rights to Emil Heineman. Bennett then erupted right away in Sunrise, scoring three goals and two assists in his first three games, and has since become a two-time Stanley Cup champion and a key part of Florida’s core.
That’s the fear with Zary: let him go, and watch him find his game somewhere else.
He does bring grit, and there’s a real belief he could help a middle-six group quickly if he lands under a new coach and system. For now, though, there hasn’t been much trade interest around him, and he likely opens the 2026-27 season with the Flames. That at least gives Calgary a chance to see whether he can settle in, or at minimum rebuild enough value to attract another team later.
For a lot of Flames supporters, this would still be a tough one to swallow.
In Other News...
Canadiens Fans Wont Like Where This Arber Xhekaj Buzz Is Going
Kaiden Xhekajs situation in Montreal has settled into one of those summer standoffs that can linger longer than anyone prefers. The Canadiens still value the restricted free agent, but they have not landed on a contract that works for both sides, and with no arbitration filing to create a firm deadline, the talks can keep stretching while other teams watch closely.
That is where the interest from clubs like the Flyers and Flames matters, because Xhekajs role has already been trending the wrong way. His ice time dipped last season, he never locked down a top-six spot, and the longer Montreal stays in this holding pattern, the more it invites outside teams to see whether a change of scenery might be possible. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Still Can't Escape The Contract Question Hanging Over Calgary
The contract conversation around Calgary has not gone away, and a fresh look at NHL deals from The Athletic only keeps it in the spotlight. In its latest ranking of player value versus salary, Jonathan Huberdeau again landed near the bottom of the league, a reminder that the Flames are still carrying one of the sports most scrutinized commitments while trying to build around the rest of the roster.
What makes the discussion linger is the size of the gap between what Huberdeau is projected to be worth and what he is paid, with his market value pegged at $4.8 million against a $10.5 million average annual value. It is the kind of mismatch that follows a team from season to season, and even with other big-market clubs absent from the top of the list, Calgary remains the one still forced to answer the same uncomfortable question. [Read more 🡒]
Three Flames Prospects Earn Canada Showcase Spots
Hockey Canadas roster for the World Junior Summer Showcase gave the Flames a notable presence, with three prospects named to Canadas group for the event in Windsor, Ontario. Cole Reschny, Carson Carels and Chase Harrington will all get a chance to skate in the kind of summer tune-up that helps sort out the early shape of the World Junior picture, with preliminary rosters from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland all in the mix.
For Calgary, the list is a welcome sign that its pipeline is showing up where it matters most. Reschny and Carels already come with the kind of pedigree that keeps them on the radar, while Harrington is the sort of player who can use a strong showing to keep his name in the conversation. The showcase runs from July 25 to August 1, and the real intrigue now is how much each of the three can do with that stage. [Read more 🡒]