Overview

• Calgary has offered Zary a three-year deal worth between $3 million and $3.5 million per season while the restricted free agent is seeking $4.5 million annually.
• Zary needs at least a two-year contract to qualify for salary arbitration next offseason and a three-year pact to edge closer to unrestricted free agency.
• AFP Analytics projects a market value of about $3.42 million per season for a short-term agreement, placing Calgary’s offer near fair value.
• When healthy, Zary has averaged 19 goals and 43 points per 82 games with top-nine ice time but missed nearly 30 games last year due to injury.
• The unresolved talks pose challenges for the Flames’ salary-cap planning and roster decisions as training camp approaches.