The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. The Hockey News reported the deal, highlighting how the Ducks sold low on Zegras.
The Flyers sent depth forward Ryan Poehling, a second-rounder and a fourth-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft, in exchange for Zegras.
The return for Zegras was underwhelming at best. The Ducks got two mid-tier picks and a depth forward who’ll likely hit the Ducks’ bottom six. That was a steal for the Flyers as they got a highly talented, still young forward.
At one point, the Ducks’ asking price for Zegras started with a first-round pick and a top-six roster player. But after an injury-plagued, 12-goal season from Zegras, the Ducks took whatever they could get.
The Flyers acquired Zegras in hopes of pairing him with budding star Matvei Michkov. If Zegras and Michkov can hit it off, the Flyers could have one of the best young duos in the NHL.
Zegras had been rumored to be on the trade block for some time. The 24-year-old forward had fallen out of favor in Anaheim due to his lack of production. Zegras was the Ducks’ first-round pick in 2019, taken ninth overall.
Ultimately, the Ducks had to decide to keep Zegras and hope he’d bounce back or move on from him. The Ducks moved on, shedding his $5.75 million cap hit. Poehling comes with a much more affordable $1.9 million cap hit.
Philadelphia Flyers Hit a Home Run with Zegras
The consensus is that the Flyers’ trade for Trevor Zegras was a home run for GM Daniel Briere. Philly didn’t have to surrender any meaningful roster players to get Zegras. Moreover, the deal didn’t cost them a first-rounder.
If anything, the Flyers have a surplus of picks. They have three first-rounders and three second-rounders in the 2025 NHL Draft. That puts the Flyers in an enviable position to make any other deals work for them.
Zegras slides in nicely into the Flyers’ lineup, as the club needs depth down the middle. While Zegras has played on the wing, he could slide into a center spot. Daily Faceoff shows Zegras as the third-line center behind captain Sean Couturier and Noah Cates.
But if Zegras hits another level, he could slide up the depth chart, cracking the top-six. Additionally, the reset in Philadelphia could allow Zegras to rediscover his game, allowing him to reach his potential.
A 60-point-plus season from Zegras could make this trade look even worse for the Ducks.
A Major Concern Surrounding Zegras
So far, everything looks on the up-and-up for the Philadelphia Flyers. But there is a major concern surrounding Zegras. He’ll be an RFA at the end of this upcoming season.
While the Flyers will be hoping to extend him sooner rather than later, valuing Zegras could be a challenge. At this point, Zegras could struggle to get a deal with a $5.75 million AAV. If he rebounds, the Flyers will have to pay.
But if he doesn’t, what do the Flyers do?
Signing him to a long-term deal could be a problem, as Zegras may be reluctant to sign when his value is at a low point. Perhaps a bridge deal could work, as Zegras would be eligible to become a UFA in 2029. A great season from Zegras would make things so much easier for everyone.
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