Wranglers open 2-0 as Flames place Zary, Pachal on waivers

CALGARY — The Calgary Wranglers have opened the season with back-to-back wins, and reinforcements could be on the way.

The Wranglers swept a two-game set from the Abbotsford Canucks at the Saddledome, taking both games 4-2. Jonathan Castagna scored twice in Friday's opener, and Axel Hurtig recorded the brace in Saturday's rematch. Both nights ended the same way: Abbotsford pulled its goalie for the extra attacker, Calgary survived the 6-on-5 and added an insurance marker into the empty net.

That is exactly what Craig Conroy and company want to see from a developmental team. The basics are getting nailed down, and head coach Brett Sutter has this group in fine form early.

Now the roster could get deeper. The Flames placed forward Connor Zary and defenceman Brayden Pachal on NHL waivers Monday. If neither is claimed by noon MT on Tuesday, both become eligible for assignment to the Wranglers.

Zary, 25, is the stunner. The 24th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has 39 goals and 48 assists in 193 career games (0.45 points per game), all with Calgary. He posted a career-high 34 points (0.54 points per game in 63 games played) as a rookie in 2023-24 but managed just 12 goals and 25 points in 74 games (0.34 points per game) last season. He has one assist through two games this year and was a healthy scratch for Saturday's game in Edmonton.

Zary is in the second year of a three-year deal carrying a $3.775-million cap hit through 2027-28. The Flames reportedly shopped him over the summer, seeking a second-round pick, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Pachal, 27, is a right-shot stay-at-home defenceman claimed off waivers from Vegas in February 2024. He has 177 career NHL games and a $1.1875-million cap hit this season, and has yet to dress this year.