The Calgary Flames will likely be playing a man short for the remainder of Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks – and perhaps awhile longer.

Flames forward Connor Zary left Tuesday’s game after a knee-on-knee collision with Anaheim Ducks defenceman Drew Helleson in the second period.

Zary’s left knee collided with Helleson’s left knee as Zary attempted to approach the slot area in the Anaheim zone with the puck. Zary went down immediately clutching his knee. He had to be helped off the ice by his teammates, and helped down the tunnel at Honda Center from the bench area to the locker room by the Flames’ training staff. As of this writing, late in the second period, Zary has not returned to the game.

Helleson was levied a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play.

The 23-year-old Zary was a first-round selection by the Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft – then-general manager Brad Treliving traded back in the draft twice, gaining a couple third-round picks and selecting Zary at 24th overall. Originally selected as a centre from the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers, Zary adapted as a pro: he moved to the wing while in the Flames’ farm system to add to his versatility, and then moved to centre this season with the Flames as the club tried to develop a new centre.

Most recently, Zary has been centring a line featuring wingers Yegor Sharangovich and Jakob Pelletier. In 40 games in the 2024-225 season, Zary has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. So far in his 103 game NHL career, Zary has 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points. He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract and is eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

We’ll have more on this story and Zary’s condition as information becomes available.