Ryan Huska explains Calgary Flames' decision to place Zary on waivers

The Calgary Flames caught many off guard on Monday morning when they announced that Connor Zary was being placed on waivers.

Once viewed as a major piece of the puzzle in Calgary, Zary’s play has fallen off dramatically over the past two seasons, at least in part due to a pair of knee injuries he suffered during the 2024-25 campaign.

While the decision surprised many on the outside given how early it is in the season, head coach Ryan Huska suggested Zary’s performance throughout the 2025-26 campaign also played a significant role in the decision.

“I don’t necessarily know if it was just the first three games,” Huska explained. “I think when you look at our team and evaluating where it is right now and where it’s going, there’s a lot of belief in the players that are coming up, the type of players they are, the ability to play the game with pace.”

That wasn’t the only time Huska mentioned pace, either, which has been an area of Zary’s game that has noticeably declined.

“A little bit of the pace, I would say, and the overhandling of pucks at times,” Huska said. “That’s where he gets himself into a little bit of trouble. A lot of times for younger players, when you know your game isn’t going the way you want it to go, there’s a tendency to overthink things a lot.”

In large part due to his $3.775-million cap hit, Zary went unclaimed on waivers and will now head to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers in an attempt to get his game back on track.

It certainly isn’t the outcome Zary would have wanted, but the Flames are happy to see both he and Brayden Pachal, who was also placed on waivers, remain within the organization.

“I know it’s going to be harder on them to start with, but if they go down the right way and play hard, they’ll be members of our team again,” Huska said.

Flames players disappointed to see teammates sent down

While fans can view transactions like these through a much different lens, moves involving familiar faces can be difficult in a dressing room.

That was especially the case for Zach Whitecloud, who spent plenty of time with Pachal during their time together in the Vegas Golden Knights organization.

“I’ve been with Pickle for almost eight or nine years,” Whitecloud said. “Was roommates with him in the minors. This game’s hard. You meet a lot of good people… It’s a business; we all understand.

“Zar and Pickle are amazing human beings, great teammates. It sucks, and that’s the tough part of this business, right?”

That sadness was also felt by Flames captain Mikael Backlund, who has gotten to know both players well over the past few years.

“It’s really tough. It’s never easy to see guys leave the team. Two really good teammates and friends. They’ve put in so much hard work for us and [are] great characters in the room. They’ll be missed.”

For Zary and Pachal, however, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the end of their time with the Flames.

Both players remain in the organization, and Huska made it clear that there is still a path back to the Flames roster.

For Zary in particular, his stint with the Wranglers will provide an opportunity to rediscover the pace and confidence that once made him look like one of the most important young players in the Flames’ organization.

Now, it’s up to him to prove he can get that version of himself back.

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