Flames snag Connor Zary 24th overall
The Calgary Flames selected forward Connor Zary with the No. 24 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Connor Zary
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 181 lbs
Age: 19
Club: Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 38 | 48 | 86 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Zary, one of the oldest players in the 2020 draft class, was one of the WHL's top players in 2019-20, finishing the season fifth in both points and goals. The 19-year-old pulled off some dazzling plays throughout the season, proving why he was considered one of the top prospects heading into the draft.
The well-balanced attacker brings a lot to the table. Zary showed some improvements in his defensive game over the last season in the WHL, which just adds to his dual-threat abilities. He may not possess the raw talent some other high-end prospects have, but he's a dynamic player with a lot of tools working in his favor.
What they're saying
"Zary plays the game in every single fashion," wrote TSN's Craig Button. "A complete centerman."
"He’s full of skill, hockey sense, and competitiveness. You can use him in any situation, and he won’t disappoint you," an NHL scout told The Athletic's Pronman. "The skating will need to come, but it will get there with strength."
"Zary is a very smart offensive player. He can make the seam passes and find teammates very well, but also makes plays happen through unconventional ways," Pronman said. "He scored a lot of bad angle goals this season, and he finds teammates in situations where there doesn’t seem to be a play."