Flames GM on drafting Connor Zary: “he’s a Swiss Army Knife and a rink rat.”

With that announcement by Lanny MacDonald, Connor Zary went to the Calgary Flames —- still there for the Flames after trading down twice from 19 to 22 to the 24th pick.

Zary knew Calgary had a keen interest in him —- but there were some tense minutes until he was finally called.

“Then I see them trade — and then I did’nt know about the next couple of picks.” says Zary. “I got back to Calgary at 22 and I thought okay I’m for sure here — 100% —- and then they traded again. I thought maybe it’s Philadelphia then. Philadelphia did’nt take me, and when I was talking to Calgary they said they were shouting and screaming when they heard Philadelphia wasn’t taking me, and they had me on the board still.”

Zary was considered one of the most well-rounded forwards in the draft class —- Flames GM Brad Treliving describing him as a Swiss Army Knife.

Treliving says it was more than just the player that the Flames liked.

“The staff as they always do did a real good job as far as the background check.” says Treliving. “Everything checks out — a real high character kid, a real neat personality. He’s a real engaging kid — he’s a rink rat. You spend a few minutes with him and you get to know him.”

As far as being a rink rat, Zary’s father Scott says his son was like that since he was a toddler.

“The first time Connor put on his skates — him and his brother, we had a back yard.” says Scott Zary. “I think he was about three or four years of age. We put his skates on and he cried. We got them off and he even cried harder, so we put them back on. He loved it. When Connor was young he could spend hour after hour on an outdoor rink. He would leave home after school at 3:30 and we would’nt see him until 9, 10, 11 oclock at night. It was all about hockey. It all comes back to a little discussion we had in the car. We always talked to them (Connor and his brother) and asked ‘what do you want to do when you grow up?’ The older boy said well, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’ Connor says ‘well I’m going to play in the NHL.'”

Last night the rink rat and Swiss Army Knife took another step in the dream. But knows there’s still work to be done to make the dream come true.

“If anything it gets more intense.” says Connor. “I’ve got to keep training, I have to be on the ice. I have to be ready for anything that comes at me. Got to keep working on my strength, got to get faster. That’s what I’m working on. I’m going to be dialed in — it’s only the beginning and there’s a lot of work to come.”

by Earl Seitz

Flames GM on drafting Connor Zary: “he’s a Swiss Army Knife and a rink rat.”

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