Connor Zary Contract Standoff: Will Flames Risk Losing Key Young Forward?
Connor Zary's future is up in the air as the Flames haven't gotten a deal done, with many now worried about his future in Calgary as a result of this standoff.
Coming into this off-season, the Calgary Flames had plenty of business to get sorted, and thus far they've worked out new deals for Matt Coronato, Morgan Frost and Kevin Bahl, locking in some key pieces of their future.
However, there's one player they haven't managed to come to terms with, and that's the talented Connor Zary, who has flashed immense potential at the NHL level, but due to injuries and being shifted around the lineup, he's yet to find that consistency.
Tension Builds as Flames, Zary Remain Far Apart on Extension Talks
While the expectation was that the Flames and Zary could get a bridge deal (likely 3-4 years) done this summer, to this point neither side has budged, with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman noting that there's no bad blood between them, but they simply haven't been able to come to terms yet.
I've just heard that the two sides have been apart. I don't think this is a situation where the Flames don't like the player, or the player doesn't like the Flames. I've just heard it's a disagreement on, 'Hey, if the term is X, this is what we think the number should be.'
The good news is that it's starting to pick up. Business is starting to pick up. It's been a slow summer, business is starting to pick up, but I just think right now it's a difference of opinion.
The good news is that it's starting to pick up. Business is starting to pick up. It's been a slow summer, business is starting to pick up, but I just think right now it's a difference of opinion.
Could Calgary's RFA Strategy Backfire Ahead of Training Camp?
With training camp just a matter of days away at this point, there are some concerns growing in Calgary, but for the most part, the team appears confident that the young forward will come to terms on a new deal with the Flames at some point.
In his NHL career thus far, Zary has 27 goals and 61 points in 117 games, showing genuine middle-six potential, and while he likely wants a long term deal similar to Marco Rossi, the overwhelming expectation is that the teams will find a middle ground and come to terms before the 2025/26 season begins.
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