Calgary Places Connor Zary on Waivers After Rough Start
Calgary placed forward Connor Zary on waivers Monday after a 0-3-0 start in which the Flames were outscored 16-3. The 25-year-old former first-round pick has struggled to hold a consistent lineup role, and Calgary reportedly found no takers when it sought a second-round pick for him in the offseason. With limited interest and production, he appears unlikely to be claimed.
Calgary’s decision came after a winless three-game opening in which the club allowed 16 goals and scored three. Zary, a 2020 first-round selection, first reached the NHL in 2023-24 and recorded 13 goals and 34 points across 63 appearances. Across 193 career games, he has 39 goals and 87 points, including a 12-goal, 25-point 2025-26 season.
The Flames signed him to a three-year, $11.325 million extension before 2025-26, carrying a $3.775 million annual cap charge through 2027-28. Two knee injuries in 2024-25 and shifting usage between wing and center have complicated his development, while Calgary’s rebuild has shifted toward younger players.
For Calgary supporters and Zary, the move may mark the end of a once-promising chapter and could add pressure to a rebuilding roster searching for identity. Other NHL clubs may weigh his contract, injury history, and lineup fit before considering a claim. More broadly, the case could illustrate how quickly professional sports careers can shift, affecting players’ livelihoods, fan attachment, and how teams balance development with financial risk.