Connor Zary's name is now tied to the New York Rangers, though the connection is softer than it first sounds.
Insider Darren Dreger reported this week that Calgary is trying to move Zary and is believed to be seeking a second-round pick in return.
New York has simply been identified as a logical destination, not a team that has actually made an offer.
The fit still makes some sense. Zary can play center or wing, and New York has said it wants to get younger and faster.
His actual numbers this past season were quiet. Zary posted 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points over 74 games with Calgary.
That decline deserves context, though. Zary has bounced between center and wing with shifting linemates rather than holding one settled role.
His declining stats may be about role, not talent
A player who keeps changing positions and partners rarely gets the runway to build real chemistry or confidence.
The more realistic outlook here is a middle-six forward capable of 35 to 45 points with better, more settled deployment.
Zary's contract makes the swing manageable either way. He carries a $3.775 million cap hit for each of the next two seasons.
That total comes to $7.55 million in remaining commitment, control through the 2027-28 season before restricted free agency follows.
Calgary drafted Zary 24th overall back in 2020, meaning a second-round return would represent a real discount on a former first-rounder.
For a rebuilding Calgary team, that math has to weigh whether his drop in production reflects deployment or an actual ceiling.
The original breakdown separating fact from speculation on this one is worth reading in full.
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New York gets a low-cost gamble either way. If Zary rebounds, a second-round pick looks cheap. If he does not, the Rangers still get a serviceable forward under contract.
Would a second-round pick be a fair price for Connor Zary?
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