Connor Zary is the 18th ranked Canadian forward, according to TSN's Craig Button.

By Chad Klassen

CONNOR ZARY

Blazers’ Zary garnering preseason attention entering draft year

Sep 10, 2019 | 3:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — Connor Zary expects a big year out of himself, and so do a lot of pro scouts and NHL general managers.

The 18 year old has been ranked 18th by TSN’s Craig Button, accounting for all the players eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft. He’s a projected first-round selection, exactly where the Saskatoon native envisions himself in June.

“Obviously my goal is to go as high as I can. That’s getting into the first round,” said Zary. “On a personal note, that’s what I’m trying to do.”

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Zary finished second in Blazers scoring last season, scoring 24 goals and piling up 67 points. Ten of those points came in the final six games of the regular season. Kamloops won five of those games to force a tiebreaker. He scored another big goal in the tiebreaker against the Rockets to get into the playoffs.

Overall, Zary had five goals and five assists down the stretch to get his team into that position. This season, he wants to lead the team in scoring. With scouts watching him closer this year, he’s using the attention to up his game.

“A lot of people will say it’s a lot of extra pressure, but I’d say it is motivation,” he said. “Every year I want to come out and I want to do my best. I want to help lead, I want to help win, I want to be that guy that scores goals, and helps the team. So just knowing it is my draft year, I’m going to try and do everything that I can to help the team win.”

Following last season’s run, Zary earned a spot on team Canada’s world under-18 championship squad and played a key role, scoring three goals and adding four assists. He was tied for 14th in tournament scoring.

Blazers head coach Shaun Clouston noticed Zary’s skill, work ethic and love for the game when he first saw him in training camp.

“I was impressed from day one. I was impressed at the very first practice,” Clouston said. “He was engaged, he was full of energy, he was talkative. That’s a very important quality with players in today’s game.”

Clouston isn’t at all surprised that Zary is 18th in Button’s early draft rankings. He sees his goal scorer as a first-round pick.

“Yeah, absolutely I do,” said the Blazers’ new bench boss. “He’s got great skill, he’s got good habits. He wants to be a hockey player, so it’s not surprising that that is where he’s at right now. I think it’s going to be a great year for him.”

Zary has already carried over his play from last year into this preseason. He’s scored a goal in each of the three games he’s played so far.