The Calgary Flames selected Kamloops Blazers forward Connor Zary with the 24th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving initially held the 19th-overall pick but moved down several spots to No. 22 after a trade with the New York Rangers. Then Calgary made a deal with the Washington Capitals to move from No. 22 to No. 24.
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Those two moves helped Treliving add a pair of third-round picks (No. 72 and No. 80). Calgary had previously sent its own 2020 third-round pick to Chicago in the trade to acquire Erik Gustafsson in February.
Hockey Hall of Famer and Flames legend Lanny McDonald helped the team announce the selection of Zary.
Zary finished the 2019-20 season as the 15th-ranked North American skater after tying for fifth in WHL scoring with 38 goals and 48 assists in 57 games this past season. Zary centred one of the most dominant lines in the CHL, skating in between Zane Franklin and Orrin Centazzo.
The 19-year-old is considered one of the most well-rounded forwards in the draft class.
“He’s a bit of a Swiss Army Knife,” Treliving said of Zary in an interview with Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie.
The Rangers took Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner Braden Schneider with the 19th pick and the Capitals went with Chicoutimi Sagueneens standout centre Hendrix Lapierre at No. 22.
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