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FN Report Cards: Connor Zary’s 2025-26 season had ups and downs
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Paige Humphrey
Apr 24, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 24, 2026, 01:03 EDT
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Connor Zary, a left-handed forward, was drafted to the Calgary Flames in the first round, 24th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. As a Saskatchewan born player, and a product of the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League, being drafted to a Canadian team was very exciting for Zary.  

Expectations

Zary, 24, went into the 2025-26 season with increased performance expectations after signing a 3 year contract extension with a $3.775 million AAV with the Flames, ending his term as a restricted free agent. Zary signed this extension on Sept. 5, 2025, just under two weeks before the start of training camp.
Coming into the season after two knee injuries in 2024-25, one ending his season, most fans were unsure of what he would be able to produce. Being known for his shooting accuracy and speed, as well as his ability to receive passes flawlessly, without affecting his stride, it was expected for Zary to move higher in the line-up. He also consistently possesses a good attitude and connection between his teammates, which was expected to help seamlessly merge both new trade acquisitions and young talent. 
The likely hope for Zary was to hit a career high in goals per game, assists per game and points per game in 2025-26. 

Performance

Zary produced 12 goals, 13 assists and 25 points, in 74 games this season before suffering an upper body injury on Mar. 20 after a hit by Panthers’ A.J. Greer, making him miss five games. This point production was lower than both Zary’s first (14 goals, 20 assists, 34 points) and second (13 goals, 14 assists, 27 points) seasons with the Flames. He was moved to a lower position in the lineup after a very slow start to his season, where he stayed for most of the season. 
His performance was sufficiently below expectations for this season, but was this due to injuries and health, or is Zary hitting a plateau in his third season in the NHL? 
Most of the reason why he did not reach expectations as a player could be due to his injuries in 2024-25. Those injuries forced him to take time off which broke his consistency and prevented him from being able to excel. Before his injuries, his performance was up to his normal standard, but his absences stalled his momentum and reduced his ability to produce offensively and points wise. (We saw a similar pattern late in 2025-26, when his late-year momentum was disrupted by the injury from the Greer hit.)
It could be argued that these prior injuries also affected his confidence, which changed the way he produced on the ice when he was able to be back in the game. 

Outlook

Although Zary had two back-to-back shortened seasons due to injury, it is hoped, if he makes a full recovery, that he will come into the 2026-27 NHL season strong, performing at his previous ability – similar to his rookie season with the team. 
Zary likely still has the potential to become a top-six forward on the team, increasing his total ice-time per game, especially on the power play. Many anticipate Zary could be able to surpass 50 points in the upcoming season… if he can stay healthy consistently. 
Regardless of on-ice skill, Zary’s attitude and drive to aid in his rookie teammates’ development could be an incredible asset for the team in the near future. He is a resource on the team in terms of morale and companionship, which has been displayed through his entire career, even when he was not on the ice. 
I believe that Zary still has the opportunity to become the player that he was projected to be when he was drafted to the team. He had two effective seasons with the Flames before coming into 2025-26, and there is nothing to prove that he cannot get back to the player he was prior to his injuries if he can gain back his mobility and confidence in the game. 
Next season will be a pivotal season for Zary to cement his role in the team. With the team being in a rebuilding stage, with major moves anticipated in the near future, there will not be a lot of room for players to have a stagnant, mid-level skill-set. In order for Zary to stay on the team in the role that he is currently in, he will have to excel next season, or at the very least reach the level that he was at prior to his injuries and forced leave. 
Overall, it is unknown what Zary will bring next season, but with a still-fresh contract and a largely new team, fans are excited to see how everything can come together next season. Hopes are high for Zary, and it is anticipated that he will deliver. 

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