Connor Zary aims to reset offensive game in pivotal Flames season

Connor Zary is under no illusions about where he stands as he breaks camp with the Calgary Flames. The 24-year-old forward, a first-round pick in 2020, sees the upcoming schedule as a defining stretch in his NHL career, one that will be judged less on potential and more on what he delivers on the scoresheet.

Disappointing season raises stakes for former first-round pick

After an early surge as an exciting call-up three seasons ago, Zary’s offensive progress has levelled off. Last year he finished with 12 goals and 25 points in 74 games, numbers he considers below the standard he expects of himself. With two years left on a three-year contract that carries a $3.7-million average annual value, he knows the pressure is on to show he can be a reliable producer.

The off-season brought added uncertainty when word emerged that general manager Craig Conroy had tested the trade market on Zary. No deal materialized, leaving the Saskatoon native with another opportunity to elevate his value in Calgary. Zary, who has spent six years in the organization, has been clear that he wants to remain with the Flames and views the city as home, not a situation he is eager to leave.

Coming off previous injuries, Zary felt he never truly hit his stride last season, pointing to a lack of strength early on and a sluggish start that lingered. To address that, he went back to Saskatoon over the summer, focused on conditioning work, power skating and changes to his diet, aiming to arrive at camp in better shape and ready to push from Day 1 rather than play catch-up.

Top-six opportunity with Strome and Sharangovich

Head coach Ryan Huska still sees significant upside in Zary’s game, describing him as a gifted player who tends to make smart decisions when he has the puck. For Huska, the challenge is getting Zary to play with greater pace so he can be around the puck more often, similar to his impactful rookie stretch alongside Nazem Kadri and Martin Pospisil after an early-season call-up.

To start the year, Huska plans to slot Zary on the second line with Ryan Strome and Yegor Sharangovich, a clear sign the coaching staff is willing to give him a genuine offensive role. The Flames need him to translate that trust into consistent results, while Zary himself needs a strong start to reinforce his own belief that he can be a difference-maker at this level.

Zary summed up his mindset by calling this "a big season" for him, emphasizing that production has to come on a nightly basis. With Conroy still believing in the player he drafted and Huska handing him top-six minutes, the opportunity is firmly in front of him. It is now up to Zary to turn that chance into the breakout season the Flames have been waiting for.