Connor Zary and Brayden Pachal were on the ice for practice with the Calgary Wranglers on Wednesday morning. Both players cleared waivers and were assigned to the Calgary Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate. Zary looked like he was having fun on the ice but says he wasn’t expecting to get waived by the Flames. “I was pretty surprised,” the 25-year-old forward said. “I’m not going to sit here and lie. I just got a phone call saying I was going on waivers, and it’s not really something you expect a couple of games into the season. “It’s something you kind of spend 24 hours thinking of and sit with, and then you get back to work.” Motivated player This was Zary’s fourth season with the Flames. In 193 games, he scored 39 goals and added 48 assists for 87 points. He says being sent down to the AHL gives him extra motivation. “Big time,” he said. “Like I mentioned, it sucks and it hurts at the start, and then you just have to put your head down and go to work. That’s all there is to do.” “I could sit here in front of you guys and be mad and be pissed off and talk to you about it for an hour and say whatever I want to say, but really, that gets me nowhere.” Where will Zary end up? The big question is where Zary will end up playing. Will he get another shot with the Flames, or will it be with another NHL team? Zary says he isn’t sure. “That’s up to them,” he said. “I think I’m here to do what I can as a player. I want to play hockey and do what I do, and I want to have fun and enjoy the game. “I think that’s really not my focus right now. I think it’s just to take it day by day and do my thing.” Pachal needs reps Pachal was also surprised to hit the waiver wire. He says he knows he’s an NHLer and just wants another opportunity, whether it be with the Flames or somewhere else. “I don’t think I have to change anything,” the 27-year-old defenceman said. “I think I just have to fine-tune my game. I believe I’m an NHL player and it’s a really tough league, especially when you’re not getting the reps. “For me, it’s just coming down here, getting those reps and hopefully being ready for when my number is called again.” Wranglers head coach Brett Sutter says he liked what he saw from both players at Wednesday’s practice. “I thought they had a great attitude through meetings,” he said. “I thought they were great on the ice today and had good energy and work ethic. “Both A-plus people and I think they’re going to pull the rope in the right direction and hit the ground running here.” Unless something happens between now and Friday, it looks like both Zary and Pachal will be in the lineup when the Wranglers host the Bakersfield Comets.
