Calgary Flames may have another move in mind for Connor Zary | Daily Hive

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Connor Zary will remain part of the Calgary Flames organization after going unclaimed on waivers.

At least, for now.

The 25-year-old was surprisingly placed on waivers Monday morning. While there was some talk that a few teams could have interest, none chose to scoop him up.

A big part of that is due to the fact that Zary carries a $3.775-million cap hit on a contract that runs through 2027-28. That’s a high price to pay for a player who, quite frankly, hasn’t looked like an NHLer as of late.

For the time being, Zary will now join the Calgary Wranglers and look to get his game back on track. It may not be a lengthy stint, however, as the Flames could continue exploring the trade market.

Zary not being claimed is contract-related. We will see if a trade can be worked out

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 6, 2026

That’s an interesting wrinkle in what has already been a surprising situation.

Any team that would have claimed Zary on waivers would have immediately taken on his contract and been required to keep him on its NHL roster, unless it subsequently exposed him to waivers again.

Now that he’s cleared, the Flames can send Zary to the AHL while continuing to work the phones and see if a trade can be worked out.

It’s also worth noting that Calgary could retain a portion of Zary’s contract in a potential trade, something that could make him more appealing to teams that otherwise wouldn’t have the cap space to take on his full $3.775-million hit.

The former first-round pick has seen his stock fall considerably over the past year. After recording 34 points in 63 games as a rookie in 2023-24, Zary managed just 27 points in 54 games last season and has struggled badly to start this year.

Still, the Flames clearly aren’t ready to give up on him entirely, with head coach Ryan Huska stating that both he and Brayden Pachal have an opportunity to earn their way back onto the roster.

Whether that’s because they believe Zary can rediscover his game in the AHL or because they’re simply trying to find a trade partner remains to be seen.

Either way, Zary clearing waivers doesn’t necessarily mean his time in Calgary is over.

It could simply mean the Flames have a little more time to figure out what’s next.

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