Young centre showing renewed confidence as Calgary tests its next core pieces

St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer, left, lets in a goal from Calgary Flames' Connor Zary during first period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY — While it has become a lost season for the Calgary Flames, the NHL team hopes Connor Zary has started to find his game.

The 24-year-old centre from Saskatoon, Sask., had the lone goal in regulation on Wednesday as Calgary prevailed 2-1 in a shootout over the St. Louis Blues.

“Connor was skating tonight and he was making plays,” said Flames coach Ryan Huska. “He looked like he had some good confidence with the puck.”

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
• Read more sports news on the CTV News Calgary sports page

While Zary’s goal was his first point in 11 games, Huska says numbers don’t tell the full story.

“For the last two and a half months, you can take a few games and throw them out, but he’s been a much better player for us,” Huska said.

After an impressive rookie campaign in 2023-24 with 14 goals and 34 points in 63 games, Zary’s sophomore season was marred by two serious knee injuries that knocked him out of the lineup for extended periods.

“To start the year, something was off,” said Huska. “Whether it was (the injuries) in the back of his head, I’m not sure what it was, but he wasn’t the player that he is now, and I think he’s feeling better about his game too.”

With 11 goals and 24 points through 66 games, Zary’s production is down, but the 2020 first-rounder is heading in the right direction.

“His game has really trended upwards and this is probably the best he’s played for us this season,” said Huska.

With Calgary out of playoff contention, the focus has shifted to seeing what players do with the opportunity before them with veteran forward Nazem Kadri traded to the Colorado Avalanche and Jonathan Huberdeau lost for the season after hip surgery.

“The players understand that they have opportunity in front of them and we’re looking for people that are going to help drive us forward. That’s the biggest thing,” explains Huska.

“So if someone can raise their level this time of the year and show they can be a guy that’s counted on and I’m capable of handling more then, yeah, we want you to be a part of us moving forward, and I think you’re starting to see certain players take off a little bit, and you’re also starting to see some other players, maybe not take off.”

Zary knows he’s one of those guys with much to prove and a real opportunity to cement his spot as part of the solution on a rebuilding team.

“Just trying to play my game,” said Zary. “Go out there and play fast, make plays, and be skilled and drive the net. I think that’s what I do best and that’s something I got to continue to do and be consistent at.”

The player Calgary brought in to replace Kadri, looking for a fresh start himself, was veteran centre Ryan Strome, who came over from the Anaheim Ducks.

Zary has been playing alongside Strome lately and has enjoyed his time with the 32-year-old with over 900 NHL games on his resume.

“I’ve loved playing with him,” said Zary. “He’s always in a good spot and it’s been easy for me to read off him and try and make plays.”

The two combined on a slick give-and-go that opened the scoring 2:34 into the game with Zary going forehand to backhand and tucking the puck inside the post.

“We’re on the ice together at practice working on little skills and trying to find each other and know where each other are, so he’s been a great help for me,” said Zary. “Being able to play with him a few times here has been awesome.”

It looked like Zary had his second point later in the first period when he juggled the puck in the air a couple times with his stick before dishing the puck to Yegor Sharangovich who wired in a goal.

However, for the second time in the period, Calgary had a goal waved off, this time for a missed stoppage as a St. Louis video challenge found that one of Zary’s touches on that rush had come with a high stick.

Waved-off goals was the theme of the night with the Flames having a third goal called back in the second period due to an offside.

“We’ve all been a part of a disallowed goal, but to have three straight? It was pretty nuts,” said Zary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18th, 2026

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press