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

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Any reason Zary is one of four 2020 CHL based first rounders not yet signed to his ELC?

I believe there is an advantage if we get him signed before the calendar year is up. But can't recall what it is (sliding rule or waivers maybe)?

It's probably because he hasn't scored any points at the WJC.

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[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It's probably because he hasn't scored any points at the WJC.

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I think that means he is a total bust. Trade him for a 5th if we can get one

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It's probably because he hasn't scored any points at the WJC.

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And boom.

[SportsJunky]

Wasn't sure where else to put this. Dobber updated some prospect reports. Here is what he says about Zary.

Connor Zary, Flames

Zary, another 2020 first-rounder, is coming off an AHL/WHL split season. As a result of Covid-19, many top-notch prospects were able to begin the season as a pro earlier than expected. The Saskatchewan native was one of the good ones, firing seven points (3G + 4A) over nine games in Stockton, before being forced back to Kamloops to assume his role as the Blazers captain.

His return to the junior ranks re-affirmed his readiness for the next level, dominating the league with a 1.60 points-per-game. With that in mind, expect him to return to the pro ranks, likely back in Stockton.

He's a tireless competitor who plays with an edge, is very strong on the puck, and has a lethal NHL-ready shot. The organization has made it clear that they expect him to play up the middle, but sleep well knowing that there is versatility to move to the wing if needed. Zary is very draftable in the first few rounds of your dynasty leagues and is poised to be a top-six player in no time.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hopefully Zary is doing alright. You always worry when a player gets a concussion, and then doesn't return before the season ends. Hopefully he's healthy and happy, and not holed up in a dark room somewhere months away from even lacing up his skates.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Well it's 40+ degrees in Kamloops this week, so I hope he IS holed up in a dark room, just for different reasons.

[dammage79]

Still a brilliant bit of draft Maneuvering by Tree on this pick. Instead of grabbing Zary at 19 they get Jeremie Poirier at 71 and Jake Boltmann at 80. The Boltmann pick is still a bit of a headscratcher but hey, that's 3 guys for the price of one.

Honestly, there's not a lot of alternatives between the boatman puck and the Chechelev pick so it kind of doesn't really matter. Only one I recognize is Maxim Groshev.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Wasn't sure where else to put this. Dobber updated some prospect reports. Here is what he says about Zary.

The organization has made it clear that they expect him to play up the middle, but sleep well knowing that there is versatility to move to the wing if needed.

Classic Flames

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Classic Flames

Yes. How silly to have options for a 19-year old. So classic.

[Chingas]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Classic Flames

Classic CP drive by.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Classic Flames

Pretty standard move for a rookie center, unless he's a top 5 pick or something and needs to be there right away, because he's just better already. Getting him ice-time is probably the priority.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Classic Flames

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

Yes. How silly to have options for a 19-year old. So classic.

Originally Posted by Chingas

Classic CP drive by.

Originally Posted by Redrum

Pretty standard move for a rookie center, unless he's a top 5 pick or something and needs to be there right away, because he's just better already. Getting him ice-time is probably the priority.

The Flames are weak down the middle, they don't have an elite C on the roster or an elite C prospect. They moved down to get Zary and it sounds like he was their target. If they want to develop him into the best C he can be, they should play him at C. They screwed up with Bennett by keeping him as a winger most of the time.

The Flames aren't an elite franchise. They've made this mistake in the past, for them to consider doing the same thing would just emphasize why they are, and have been for a LONG time, where they are.

I dont think this was a drive by, more just expressing frustration.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Poe969

The Flames are weak down the middle, they don't have an elite C on the roster or an elite C prospect. They moved down to get Zary and it sounds like he was their target. If they want to develop him into the best C he can be, they should play him at C.

Good. Because it sounds like the Flames are delivering precisely on your wishes:

The organization has made it clear that they expect him to play up the middle, but sleep well knowing that there is versatility to move to the wing if needed.

Originally Posted by Poe969

They screwed up with Bennett by keeping him as a winger most of the time.

This is a weird revision of history. Bennett started on the wing and looked fine in his first season. He started to struggle mightily once moved to centre.

The Flames aren't an elite franchise. They've made this mistake in the past, for them to consider doing the same thing would just emphasize why they are, and have been for a LONG time, where they are.

I dont think this was a drive by, more just expressing frustration.

Well, considering the source and the fact that the reported response from the team IS EXACTLY WHAT THE FRANCHISE SHOULD BE DOING WITH ZARY, the referenced post is the textbook definition of a "drive-by."

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This is a weird revision of history. Bennett started on the wing and looked fine in his first season. He started to struggle mightily once moved to centre.

This also doesn’t tell the story.

He started struggling mightily when they moved him to centre and then played him with non-NHL caliber players that were bad enough to sink Gaudreau/Monahan, but the Flames expected Bennett to deal with.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

This also doesn’t tell the story.

He started struggling mightily when they moved him to centre and then played him with non-NHL caliber players that were bad enough to sink Gaudreau/Monahan, but the Flames expected Bennett to deal with.

True enough, but Bennett did not fail in Calgary because the Flames refused to play him at centre. That may have been a contributing factor, but only one of several reasons it didn't work out here, and BOTH the player and the organisation are culpable. It is just so frustrating to continue to see these oversimplified binary narratives about what happened that neglect to address the entire complicated mess.

But, then again, there does not seem to be any early correlation at all between Bennett's development and Connor Zary's.

[Funkhouser]

This thread needs more Jankowski

[gt4flames]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

This thread needs more Jankowski

[GioforPM]

This team played Lindholm successfully at wing for a while. Other teams routinely use guys that were drafted at centre on wing, especially as a rookie

[powderjunkie]

Glad he's eligible for AHL next year. It really sucks when there's no middle ground between CHL and NHL for some guys in their D+2 year (like he is to not be named)...even if it just means a brief taste one way or the other.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

Yes. How silly to have options for a 19-year old. So classic.

Unsurprisingly, you didn’t understand

The Flames had a depth chart of 6 middle 6 C, and only 1 top 6 RW. Didn’t make the playoffs. This exact type of reasoning did not work for them.

That was a funny thing to read. If they don’t get it either, you’re in fine company