Latest news with #Wranglers
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Connor Zary's Next Deal a Priority for Flames
Signing Connor Zary should be near the top of Flames' GM Craig Conroy's to-do list. The 23-year-old forward is a Restricted Free Agent (RFA), and while his numbers don't scream 'super star' just yet— 13 goals, 14 assists, 27 points in 53 games last season—there's no mistaking the upside. Zary showed flashes of top-six potential before two fluke injuries derailed his year: first, a knee-on-knee collision in Anaheim and then an awkward fall after being hauled down against Dallas. Still, when he's healthy, Zary drives play and creates dynamic offence. A full season could see him push 25 goals and 50 points. His scoring touch showed in 2022–23 with the AHL's Wranglers, where he played all 72 games and racked up 21 goals and 58 points. He also has the potential to slide from wing to centre, which would give the Flames much needed stability down the middle. Zary can be streaky at times, but his game is still maturing. If he finds another level of consistency, he becomes a key piece in Calgary's forward group. Drafted 24th overall in 2020, Zary is coming off a three-year entry-level deal with a modest $863,334 cap hit. The Flames are in a great spot to sign him at value. The production may not match the ceiling just yet—but it's coming. Zary isn't just part of the future—he's shown he can make an impact now. © Tim Fuller-Imagn Images © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ottawa Citizen
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Sam Morton's eventful year continues after re-upping with Flames
Article content Sam Morton has had a great couple of months. Article content That's probably understating it a bit. Article content Back in April, he scored in his first NHL game for the Calgary Flames. A milestone every young hockey player dreams of hitting. Article content About a week ago, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Ellie, and she said yes. Article content Then, on Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames that comes with a cap-hit of US$775,000. Article content Article content 'I said to my fiancee, Ellie, 'How are we going to top this next year?' ' Morton said on Wednesday afternoon. 'Hopefully with a wedding and some more NHL games under the belt, but as we were talking about, you've got to put the work in and the work that you put in is what makes it so rewarding.' Article content Article content There's never been any question about Morton's work ethic, and it's the major reason why he's one of the most intriguing players in the Flames system heading into training camp in September. He earned his call-up for the final game of the regular season through his performances with a Wranglers team that was snake-bitten by injury all year. Morton scored 20 goals for the team – including four game-winners – and was fifth on the team with 45 points. Article content Remember that it was his first season as a pro, too, after signing as a free-agent following a standout NCAA career with Minnesota State University. Article content Article content That should all put him right in the mix for a job as the Flames' fourth-line centre this fall, especially because Justin Kirkland can be moved to the wing if necessary. Article content With that in mind, while it's been an amazing spring and start to the summer for Morton, he's making sure not to get too comfortable. Article content '(This summer) feels different in that I'm more familiar with the staff and the players that are around and just kind of the culture of this organization,' Morton explained. 'In that regard, I'd say it's more familiar, but every year the pressure grows. Article content 'Last year, it was do as well as I can in the AHL and hope to get an NHL game and that happened. Now, it's like 'Alright, how many more can we get? How can we get to that league and stick in that league?' Every year, the pressure stays the same or grows because if you do well, the bar gets set higher.' Article content After the high of scoring in his first NHL game, Morton returned to the Wranglers for the AHL playoffs and then took two weeks off to get a break from hockey. Since then, though, the focus has been squarely on getting ready for next season.
Edmonton Journal
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Sam Morton's eventful year continues after re-upping with Flames
Article content Sam Morton has had a great couple of months. Article content That's probably understating it a bit. Article content Back in April, he scored in his first NHL game for the Calgary Flames. A milestone every young hockey player dreams of hitting. Article content About a week ago, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Ellie, and she said yes. Article content Then, on Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames that comes with a cap-hit of US$775,000. Article content Article content 'I said to my fiancee, Ellie, 'How are we going to top this next year?' ' Morton said on Wednesday afternoon. 'Hopefully with a wedding and some more NHL games under the belt, but as we were talking about, you've got to put the work in and the work that you put in is what makes it so rewarding.' Article content Article content There's never been any question about Morton's work ethic, and it's the major reason why he's one of the most intriguing players in the Flames system heading into training camp in September. He earned his call-up for the final game of the regular season through his performances with a Wranglers team that was snake-bitten by injury all year. Morton scored 20 goals for the team – including four game-winners – and was fifth on the team with 45 points. Article content Remember that it was his first season as a pro, too, after signing as a free-agent following a standout NCAA career with Minnesota State University. Article content Article content That should all put him right in the mix for a job as the Flames' fourth-line centre this fall, especially because Justin Kirkland can be moved to the wing if necessary. Article content With that in mind, while it's been an amazing spring and start to the summer for Morton, he's making sure not to get too comfortable. Article content '(This summer) feels different in that I'm more familiar with the staff and the players that are around and just kind of the culture of this organization,' Morton explained. 'In that regard, I'd say it's more familiar, but every year the pressure grows. Article content 'Last year, it was do as well as I can in the AHL and hope to get an NHL game and that happened. Now, it's like 'Alright, how many more can we get? How can we get to that league and stick in that league?' Every year, the pressure stays the same or grows because if you do well, the bar gets set higher.' Article content After the high of scoring in his first NHL game, Morton returned to the Wranglers for the AHL playoffs and then took two weeks off to get a break from hockey. Since then, though, the focus has been squarely on getting ready for next season.
Calgary Herald
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Sam Morton's eventful year continues after re-upping with Flames
Article content Sam Morton has had a great couple of months. Article content That's probably understating it a bit. Article content Back in April, he scored in his first NHL game for the Calgary Flames. A milestone every young hockey player dreams of hitting. Article content About a week ago, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Ellie, and she said yes. Article content Then, on Wednesday morning, the 25-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames that comes with a cap-hit of US$775,000. Article content Article content 'I said to my fiancee, Ellie, 'How are we going to top this next year?' ' Morton said on Wednesday afternoon. 'Hopefully with a wedding and some more NHL games under the belt, but as we were talking about, you've got to put the work in and the work that you put in is what makes it so rewarding.' Article content Article content There's never been any question about Morton's work ethic, and it's the major reason why he's one of the most intriguing players in the Flames system heading into training camp in September. He earned his call-up for the final game of the regular season through his performances with a Wranglers team that was snake-bitten by injury all year. Article content Morton scored 20 goals for the team – including four game-winners – and was fifth on the team with 45 points. Article content Remember that it was his first season as a pro, too, after signing as a free-agent following a standout NCAA career with Minnesota State University. Article content Article content That should all put him right in the mix for a job as the Flames' fourth-line centre this fall, especially because Justin Kirkland can be moved to the wing if necessary. Article content With that in mind, while it's been an amazing spring and start to the summer for Morton, he's making sure not to get too comfortable. Article content '(This summer) feels different in that I'm more familiar with the staff and the players that are around and just kind of the culture of this organization,' Morton explained. 'In that regard, I'd say it's more familiar, but every year the pressure grows. Article content 'Last year, it was do as well as I can in the AHL and hope to get an NHL game and that happened. Now, it's like 'Alright, how many more can we get? How can we get to that league and stick in that league?' Every year, the pressure stays the same or grows because if you do well, the bar gets set higher.' Article content After the high of scoring in his first NHL game, Morton returned to the Wranglers for the AHL playoffs and then took two weeks off to get a break from hockey. Since then, though, the focus has been squarely on getting ready for next season.
The Onion
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Onion
The Onion's Exclusive Interview With Lorde
New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde has released Virgin, her fourth studio album. The Onion sat down with the artist to discuss identity, inspiration, and what's next. The Onion : How has your music evolved as you've gotten older? Lorde: When I was younger I was really intimidated by the black keys on the piano, but now I can't get enough of them. The Onion : What inspired the X-ray album cover? Lorde: It's an homage to the TV show Bones . The Onion : Are you touring soon? Lorde: I hope not. I just signed up for a pizza-making class. The Onion: What's your writing process like? Lorde: My secretary types up my thoughts and faxes them to Jack Antonoff. The Onion : Who are some artists you'd like to collaborate with in the future? Lorde: I've always wanted to work with one of those guys who paints themselves silver and pretends to be a statue. The Onion : You've described yourself as 'in the middle gender-wise.' What does this mean to you? Lorde: Sitting on a horse in oversized Wranglers, no top. Alternatively, standing barefoot in the rain in a wedding dress. And in both of these scenarios it's heavily implied that I'm a ghost. The Onion : What are some things to consider when tying a bowline knot? Lorde: The bowline is an extremely secure knot, but can be hard to adjust. It all comes down to context. The Onion : What's next for you? Lorde: Disappearing into some tall grass.
