Canadian Team Linked To Connor Zary Trade Interest

Connor Zary cleared waivers this past week in a surprising move by the Calgary Flames. No team was interested enough in taking a chance on the former first-rounder to take on his $3.775 cap hit. 

So Zary is back in the American Hockey League with the Wranglers Friday night for the first time in three years. He scored a goal in his return there. 

The Flames will be continuing their efforts to find a trade partner for Zary, and on that front, insider Elliotte Friedman has suggested a fellow Canadian team from a neighbouring province is interested. 

I do think Vancouver is one of the teams that has looked at Zary. I think there's a few more obviously, but I've heard the Canucks are one of the few teams considering it. And it make sense. 

The Canucks, like the Flames, are in a rebuild situation, and taking a shot on a young center who just turned 25 and was a first-round pick (2020 Draft) does, in fact, make sense. 

But the two sides would have to figure out the money. As Friedman notes, the Flames only have one retention spot remaining, and are unlikely to expend it on reducing Zary's $3.775 cap hit in a trade. 

"They don't want to retain money, so I do think it's going to take something creative," added Friedman. 

Zary had a promising rookie season in 2023-24, with 14 goals and 34 points in 63 games with the Flames, averaging over 15 minutes of ice time per night. He also recorded a solid plus/minus rating of +12 and finished 8th in the Calder voting for Rookie of the Year.

Since then, however, it's been a struggle for the Saskatoon native. His goal and point totals have decreased each season, while his plus/minus rating was down to a minus-9 last year. 

But a change of scenery could unlock his potential.