One of the Philadelphia Flyers' top roster needs heading into the 2026-27 season is another center. Adding a top-six center, in particular, would benefit the Flyers tremendously as they look to take another step forward next season.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is the top center trade candidate in the NHL, but the Flyers are not on his trade list. After him, there are not many notable names out there in the rumor mill.
Due to this, the Flyers should consider taking a flier on a young center who could use a change of scenery: Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary.
Zary generated plenty of chatter as a trade candidate earlier this offseason. Back in late June, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that the Flames were trying to trade Zary and wanted a second-round pick for the 24-year-old forward. If this remains the case now, he could be a player worth targeting for Philadelphia.
Zary had a down year for the Flames in 2025-26, posting 12 goals and 25 points in 74 games. Although this is the case, he is still young enough that he could turn things around. Perhaps joining an exciting team on the rise that needs a center like the Flyers could help him take that next step.
Flames' Connor Zary could bounce back with the Flyers
When looking at Zary's previous seasons in the NHL, there is a clear reason to believe that he could bounce back if acquired from the Flyers. During the 2024-25 season with the Flames, he posted 13 goals and 27 points in just 54 games. This was after he set career highs with 14 goals, 20 assists, and 34 points in 63 games with the Flames as a rookie in 2023-24.
With numbers like these, Zary has already shown that he has the potential to produce like a solid top-nine forward, at least. Because of this, it could make a lot of sense for the Flyers to take a chance on the 2020 first-round pick.
Ultimately, with the Flyers needing help down the middle, it would not hurt for them to bring in Zary. The potential for him to break out and develop into a true top-six forward could still be there. At a minimum, his offense would likely improve from last season's totals if acquired by the Flyers, as he would have far more help around him than he does in Calgary.
Add us as a preferred source on Google