Zary sent message Flames need him to be at his best down the stretch
The hottest topics on the Calgary Flames right now are all about the rebuild.
In particular, how the franchise should deal with a number of young players trying to establish themselves as effective NHLers.
Rookies Dustin Wolf and Martin Pospisil were in the middle of all the action during Thursday night’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets, eliminating them from the playoff conversation.
But fellow freshman Connor Zary was watching from the cheap seats as a healthy scratch.
And Flames head coach Ryan Huska reiterated on Friday that nothing is guaranteed for Zary or any of the other young players on his roster even though the largest implication of the final stretch of games is their upcoming draft position.
“We’re not in the playoffs right now but I don't believe in giving free games to people just because they're young. What type of messaging or lesson are they learning along the way?” Huska told reporters at the Saddledome on Friday. “If you want to see how games should be played, you look at someone like MacKenzie Weegar right now. He's playing every game like it's his last game. That's the expectation we have for all of our players. Just because they're young or someone that's up and coming, should not be a reason why they're getting games.
“They should deserve the games.”
An injury sidetracked what’s been a pretty impressive season for the 22-year-old forward, who has 12 goals and 30 points through 56 NHL. He’s been talked about as one of the league’s better rookies this season but hasn’t had that competitive edge to his game in his last half-dozen contests and Huska decided to give him a breather and remind him of what his game looks like when he’s playing up to his potential.
You’ll likely see him motivated for Saturday’s final Battle of Alberta as the Flames host the Edmonton Oilers and that other guy named Connor on Hockey Night in Canada.
As for the coach’s philosophy on players needing to deserve the games? Some of the underperforming veterans should probably be eating popcorn, but you can’t sit everybody.
It’s more applicable to the developing players who still vividly remember the passion and exuberance they brought to their first NHL contest.
Which is how Huska wants Zary to play down the stretch.
“Connor's a guy that I feel makes people around him better when he's competitive and he's controlling the puck,” Huska said. “When he comes and plays the game, I want him to have an energy and an enthusiasm about him and a level of compete that is starting to set himself apart from other players.”
