[News] Flames trade down (twice) to the 24th OA pick and select C Connor Zary

[albertGQ]

So who’s our better prospect? Zary or Pelletier?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

So who’s our better prospect? Zary or Pelletier?

You know the answer to that. The shiny new toy.

[Mass_nerder]

Maybe just recency bias, but Zary (imo). I've never really been impressed with Pelletier though.

[David Struch]

"A place like Calgary? It's pretty special."

https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status...90445004693505

[TheScorpion]

Entirely possible we see Pelletier and Zary on the same line at the 2021* WJC

my prediction:

Krebs - Byfield - Cozens
Newhook - Perfetti - Tomasino
Poulin - Mercer - McMichael
Pelletier - Zary/Jarvis - Suzuki
Holloway/Lapierre

Byram - Drysdale
Harley - Schneider
Korczak - Barron
Guhle/Robertson

I have no idea about the goalies

[David Struch]

"To be able to move down twice, get two extra picks and still be able to say Connor's name was absolutely fantastic."

Lanny checks in with #Flames TV following Round 1 of the #NHLDraft!

https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status...82791301705729

[David Struch]

Connor Zary: Calgary is the team I wanted to go to

https://www.sportsnet.ca/960/big-sho...eam-wanted-go/

Flames director of amateur Tod Button on selecting Connor Zary 24th overall

https://www.sportsnet.ca/960/big-sho...-24th-overall/

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

So who’s our better prospect? Zary or Pelletier?

Zary is bigger and plays the more valuable position.

That said, I didn’t know who Zary was an hour ago, and I also don’t think Pelletier is anything special.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Zary is bigger and plays the more valuable position.

That said, I didn’t know who Zary was an hour ago, and I also don’t think Pelletier is anything special.

5 points in 2 games so far for Jakob. He’s trying anyway.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

So who’s our better prospect? Zary or Pelletier?

Zary is the more heralded prospect and played better when on the same U-18 team so I’d go him.

Had Pelletier not gotten injured last year and kept up his pre-injury pace (49 points in 26 games) then I’d probably say him but he wasn’t as good after he returned from injury (33 points in 31 games). Good start again this season though with 5 points in 2 games.

Pelletier probably doesn’t get enough credit on this site actually.

I think both guys are NHLers though and will be interesting to see how both perform this season. They are only born 3 months apart so kind of the same age even though drafted in different years.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

So who’s our better prospect? Zary or Pelletier?

Statistically, Zary. Same games played last season, but Zary has more goals, more points, extrapolates better, and is younger.

[SeanCharles]

Fun fact: Braden Schneider, who NYR traded up to nab with our 19th overall pick, is 4 days older than Zary.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Zary was a force at those U18s. 4 goals and 7 points in 7 games. Pelletier didn't have nearly as much success, just 2 assists. Guys have bad stretches though.

Don't forget the important story on Pelletier there, as it was reported how Pelletier went despite being told not to because it could affect his draft stock since he had an injured ankle, but he wanted to go anyways because he just wanted to play hockey

[AC]

Reading the HFBoards thread about him is fun. Fans that watch the WHL specifically posting their thoughts on him over the last 2 seasons mainly.

Some quotes:
"He's incredible. He's definitely going 1st round next year. What a stud."

"I think he might be the most underrated prospect in this draft so far."

"I really think this kid is gonna be the steal of the 2020 draft"

"I live in Kamloops and have seen him play almost every game (I have season tickets). I had him in my top 10 for the past year and have been laughed at. The kid is the real deal. Plays a 200 ft game, amazing skater, excellent shot, and great playmaker ability. Such a complete player and a joy to watch."

"Rocking 53 points (25 goals) in 37 games (1.43 P/G) [finished with a 1.51 P/G] and absolutely does it all as the focal point in Kamloops. He’s a good skater, defensively responsible, smart, good size, and has a mean streak to go along with it.

To put it in perspective, Dach went 3rd with 1.18 P/G, Cozens 7th with 1.24 P/G, Patrick 2nd with 1.39 P/G, Glass 6th with 1.36 P/G, Rasmussen 9th with 1.10 P/G, Reinhart 2nd with 1.75 P/G on a stacked team, Draisaitl 3rd with 1.64 P/G, Virtanen 6th with 1.00 P/G, RNH 1st with 1.53 P/G, Johansen 4th with 0.97 P/G, Connolly 6th with 1.18 P/G, in the last decade."

"Every single viewing I've had of Zary he's been incredibly good and I've come away impressed. Literally everything about his games screams strong NHL career."

[868904]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Cozens and Dach both went top 10 last year and Zary has better draft year production than both of them in their draft year.

Cozens and Zary had very similar numbers this past season actually with Cozens in his D+1.

This draft is just that deep this year.

I don’t mind the pick but the distinguishing factor for me when comparing Zary to Cozens and Dach is that both those guys have size and are good skaters.

The production might be the same but their projections are superior because of size and skating. You can’t just look at point production as the comparing factor. There are lots of high scorers in junior who can’t even make it to pro let alone the NHL.

It is a concern when you hear that skating is what he needs to work on, not every player just becomes a good skater with NHL level guidance. Monahan and Tkachuk are highly skilled, smart and with size but both have been hampered by skating, which shows when the speed and intensity of games ratchets up in the playoffs.

Hopefully with Zary, the skating issue is due more to a lack of strength and power and not so much technique.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by AC

Reading the HFBoards thread about him is fun. Fans that watch the WHL specifically posting their thoughts on him over the last 2 seasons mainly.

Some quotes:
"He's incredible. He's definitely going 1st round next year. What a stud."

"I think he might be the most underrated prospect in this draft so far."

"I really think this kid is gonna be the steal of the 2020 draft"

"I live in Kamloops and have seen him play almost every game (I have season tickets). I had him in my top 10 for the past year and have been laughed at. The kid is the real deal. Plays a 200 ft game, amazing skater, excellent shot, and great playmaker ability. Such a complete player and a joy to watch."

"Rocking 53 points (25 goals) in 37 games (1.43 P/G) [finished with a 1.51 P/G] and absolutely does it all as the focal point in Kamloops. He’s a good skater, defensively responsible, smart, good size, and has a mean streak to go along with it.

To put it in perspective, Dach went 3rd with 1.18 P/G, Cozens 7th with 1.24 P/G, Patrick 2nd with 1.39 P/G, Glass 6th with 1.36 P/G, Rasmussen 9th with 1.10 P/G, Reinhart 2nd with 1.75 P/G on a stacked team, Draisaitl 3rd with 1.64 P/G, Virtanen 6th with 1.00 P/G, RNH 1st with 1.53 P/G, Johansen 4th with 0.97 P/G, Connolly 6th with 1.18 P/G, in the last decade."

"Every single viewing I've had of Zary he's been incredibly good and I've come away impressed. Literally everything about his games screams strong NHL career."

And yet some say he can’t skate. Brian Burke had concerns.

[devo22]

very happy with this pick. Skating can be worked on, but the other stuff (high character, motor etc) sounds exciting. Would have been happy with Zary at 19 - picking up two 3rds in the process is elite GMing by Brad.

[Azure]

One thing you notice in all the comments is that he brings it everyday. Consistency at a high level is important, and will play a big part in being successful in the NHL.

[Jiggy]

Zary's skating doesn't seem as bad as people make it out to be, the kid looks decent on his edges as he's dangling around players and scores a goal. But watching highlights won't always show the full picture. The good thing is Zary has lot's of skill and compete, he can work on his skating going forward.

[Mass_nerder]

His stride looks a little odd and scrambly from the highlight packages, but he gets where he needs to go. Plus it looks like he's got pretty good edgework to score those wrap around goals.
Definitely is probably something that he will have to work on; however, Chucky faced similar criticism, and his skating hasn't really impacted his effectiveness too much.