Flyers make Zegras highest-paid player on their roster with new contract

Flyers make Zegras highest-paid player on their roster with new contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Trevor Zegras turned his career resurgence into a payday.

The 25-year-old forward agreed to terms with the Flyers on a new four-year, $36.5 million contract Wednesday night. The deal has a $9.125 million average annual value, making Zegras the highest-paid player on the Flyers’ roster.

The contract has a limited no-trade clause in Years 3 and 4, according to a source.

Zegras was a restricted free agent with a player-elected arbitration hearing set for next Monday, per PuckPedia.com. But, as expected, the Flyers avoided arbitration. Zegras will be an unrestricted free agent when his deal expires after the 2029-30 season.

“We’re thrilled to have Trevor committed to our organization for the next four years,” general manager Danny Briere said in a statement released by the team. “The growth he showed this past season, proving that he is the skilled player he entered the league as, reinforced our belief that he will be an impact player for the Flyers for the years to come. He’s the type of player who can help take our team to the next level, and we’re excited to continue building alongside him.”

Zegras had career highs last season with 26 goals and 67 points, production that was sparked by a change of scenery. He came to the Flyers last summer in a trade from the Ducks. His time in Anaheim finished with two injury-riddled, disappointing seasons.

But in Year 1 with the Flyers, Zegras answered Rick Tocchet’s challenge. He put up five multi-goal games after having none the season prior with the Ducks. He also made the playoffs for the first time in his career.

“To find that passion for winning and success as a team was big,” Zegras said in May at his end-of-the-season press conference. “I think I had lost a little bit of that, the drive and the passion to win and be a really good team. We definitely had, in my opinion, a great, successful season.”

Zegras led the Flyers with six points in the playoffs. He had two goals and four assists in 10 games as the club made it to the second round, where it was swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes.

The biggest question facing Zegras this season will be his position. Is he a center or winger? Considering the money on his new contract, the Flyers probably would like to see him stick at center. It’s a premium position and one in which the Flyers need the most help.

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Zegras will have to improve his faceoff numbers and continue to build on the all-around game he proved he could play last season. His goal-scoring ability came out on the wing when Tocchet had him there to build his confidence. But the head coach moved him back to center as the Flyers made their playoff push.

“I’m fine with playing both,” Zegras said. “I liked playing in the middle down the stretch just because there’s a little bit more space and you can kind of pick and choose where you want to go a little bit more. I think playing center in the playoffs was a good experience for me just in terms of how different it was, how hard the battles are and all that type of stuff. But I thought it was good.”

With the NHL salary cap only going up, Zegras was poised for a considerable raise. He’s only 25 years old and already has three seasons of 60 or more points. He could be in for a bigger deal at 29 years old if he takes his scoring and minutes to another level. The next step for Zegras could be 30 goals and 75 to 80 points.

For Briere, his next task is re-signing Jamie Drysdale. The restricted free-agent defenseman has an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday of next week, but the Flyers should be able to get something done before then.

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