On Monday, the Anaheim Ducks traded Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Pohling, a 2025 second-round pick (45th overall), and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
Zegras’ time in Anaheim was electric from the first time he stepped onto the ice wearing a Ducks sweater. Still, a strenuous contract negotiation and two injury-riddled seasons later, Zegras is a member of the Flyers.
Ducks Trade Trevor Zegras to the Flyers
Here’s a timeline of Zegras’ tenure as a member of the Anaheim Ducks:
2019 Draft
The Ducks select Trevor Zegras with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
2019-20 Season
Zegras plays his freshman season at Boston University, scoring 36 points (11-25=36) in 33 games.
He represents the United States at the 2020 World Junior Championship, scoring nine points (all assists) in five games.
Zegras signs his ELC on March 27, 2020
2020-21 Season
Zegras again represents the United States at the 2021 World Junior Championship, winning a gold medal and tournament MVP honors with a whopping 18 points (7-11=18) in seven games.
He joins the San Diego Gulls following World Juniors and scores nine points (4-5=9) in eight games.
He’s called up to the Ducks for his NHL debut and scores seven points (1-6=7) in 17 games before rejoining the Gulls in a reported transaction to move him back to his natural center position.
He scores 12 points (6-6=12) in his next nine AHL games and is recalled to the NHL.
He finishes the regular season with six points (2-4=6) in his next seven NHL games and is returned to the AHL for their playoffs, where he scores three points (1-2=3) in three games.
2021-22 Season
Zegras electrifies in his first full NHL season, his rookie campaign, becoming a human highlight reel, earning an invite to the NHL All-Star Game as a guest in the shootout competition and a spot as a co-cover athlete on EA Sports’ “NHL 23” video game.
He was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy, totalling 61 points (23-38=61) in 75 games.
2022-23 Season
Zegras leads the Ducks in scoring in his sophomore season, the Ducks' worst season in franchise history, with 65 points (23-42=65) in 81 games.
2023 Offseason
Zegras is an RFA, as his ELC expires. A publicly difficult negotiation plays out well into the Ducks’ notably intense 2023 training camp, Greg Cronin’s first as head coach after his hiring in June.
He signs a three-year bridge deal that carries an AAV of $5.75 million on Oct 2, 2023, and sustains a groin injury attempting to catch up to speed halfway through camp.
2023-24 Season
Zegras attempts to play through injury early in the season while rounding out his two-way game, but is forced out of the lineup to recover after only producing three points (1-2=3) in 12 games.
He returns to the lineup in late December and tallies five points (3-2=5) in eight games before sustaining a broken ankle.
During his absence, the Ducks trade Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Cutter Gauthier. Zegras’ name pops up on trade boards due to speculation, citing the aforementioned contract negotiation and a potential stylistic mismatch between him and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek.
He returns in late March and finishes the season with a total of 15 points (6-9=15) in 31 games, including eight points (2-6=8) in his final eight games.
After the season, he represents the United States at the World Championships, disappointingly scoring three points (1-2=3) in eight games.
2024-25 Season
Zegras and the Ducks get off to a slow start to the season, but his play is praised by Cronin and Verbeek for his commitment to both sides of the puck and in all three zones.
He tears his meniscus in early December and ultimately misses 25 games due to injury in 2024-25. He finishes the year with a total of 32 points (12-20=32) in 57 games.
2025 Offseason
Zegras is traded to Philadelphia.
Conclusion
The decline in Zegras’ production and value can be traced back to his contract negotiations in the summer of 2023. A coach was hired who demanded a different level of commitment to defense than Zegras had been accustomed to and capable of. Despite his best efforts, he was never able to deliver what was asked, and in trying to accomplish it, his offensive game and his body took significant hits.
Zegras will look to recover his production displayed early in his career, as he’s still one of the most deceptive, creative, and offensively gifted players in the NHL.
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Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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