The Calgary Flames 2020 first round pick Connor Zary officially signed a 3 year, $3.7 million deal locking his exciting development down in Alberta for three more years. Zary who has shown signs of being a versatile leader on the Flames at only 24 will now take a much more advanced role during this tricky period in Calgary, and with leadership orioles opening up, the next three years could be massive in determining whether he could be the Flames next captain.
Zary is among a big group of exciting talent in Calgary including the likes of Matt Coronato and Zayen Parekh, however his role and how his game has changed over the last couple of seasons has really highlighted what he could shape up to be in the future, and he could take on a much more advanced team role in the years to come. The 24 year old Canadian was originally wowing with his playmaking abilities, and high ceiling for improvement, however, a slow start up north has shown goal scoring and play making won't be his game completely, but being a controlled leader could be.
He has already shown glimpses of being a solid leader, and being a player who can carry a team on his shoulders well, taking accountability and responsibility during his time in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers where he earned the title of captain during his final season. With more and more prospects coming Calgary’s way, and more players beginning to make their mark as 30 goal scorers rather than gritty, workload leaders, Zary has the perfect opportunity to adapt his game to be a leader.
Whether it is being a workhorse on the backcheck and forecheck, or just being physical and setting the tone, Zary is able to much more with his game than just scoring and point producing, and with what we have seen so far, Zary is poised to be if not the next, a future captain of the Calgary Flames. So far in his career, he has already shown two way competence, and flashes of extremely talented offense, however what every team needs is somebody who represents the team, and does the little things nobody wants to do, in Zary’s case, as talent begins to floor the Flames dressing room, adapting his game to the leadership level over the next three years could line him up to be a key part of the Flames roster, and an intangible piece who could be a very matured piece in a couple of years.
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