What Happened
The Calgary Flames placed forward Connor Zary on waivers Monday, and he cleared after all 31 other teams passed. Brayden Pachal also cleared waivers. Zary, a 25-year-old former first-round pick, was reassigned to the AHL's Calgary Wranglers. The moves came after the Flames opened the season 0-3 while being outscored 16-3. Coach Ryan Huska said the decision sends a message to the locker room that the team is not satisfied with its start.
Key Details
- Zary and Pachal both cleared waivers at noon Tuesday.
- Zary was reassigned to the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL.
- The Flames were outscored 16-3 during their 0-3 start.
- Huska said players should feel uneasy if they are comfortable with where they are.
- General manager Craig Conroy made the decision to expose Zary.
What It Means
The demotion of a 25-year-old first-round pick is an unusual step for a team trying to jolt a struggling roster. By exposing Zary and Pachal, Calgary's management signaled that early-season performance, not draft pedigree or tenure, will determine who stays in the NHL. Zary now gets a chance to adjust his game in the AHL while the Flames look for a response from the players still on the roster.
What's Next
Zary is expected to play for the AHL Wranglers while working to earn a return to Calgary. The Flames continue their schedule looking to respond to the message sent by the waiver moves.