Just days after the Philadelphia Flyers made a blockbuster trade with the Anaheim Ducks, rumors emerge that there may be more players on their way out of the Pond, specifically Trevor Zegras.
Zegras, who will turn 23 in March, has taken the league by storm with his creative offense and viral video plays. His totals have been decent as well, posting 23 goals and 65 points in 81 games during 2022-23, which was four more points than his previous high in 2021-22. He also racked up 88 penalty minutes and a -24 rating on a putrid Ducks team.
He’s one of those guys that is hard to put a price tag on when it comes to possible trade value. A 22-year-old face of a franchise and one of the most recognizable players in the game today doesn’t exactly find himself in this situation too often.
The Flyers are apparently opting to avoid a full on rebuild in favor of a quickened pace back towards relevancy, and adding a young human highlight reel who fills a major need both on and off the ice should at least raise an eyebrow from Danny Briere.
First and foremost, who doesn’t want to see the hit rom-com of the winter of Zegras and head coach John Tortorella trying to coexist? The latter has buried the former on live TV multiple times for his innovative scoring because he’s a geriatric curmudgeon who doesn’t like fun.
Though ignoring the stranglehold Torts has on the Flyers’ organization at the moment, the Flyers still are in need of a young, dynamic top center and, quite frankly, a new face of the franchise. He recently inked a three-year, $17.25 million ($5.75 aav) contract, which is a team-friendly number in the short term.
There are some familiar faces for Trevor Zegras already members of the Flyers. He played alongside Cam York and Bobby Brink at the 2020 and 2021 World Juniors. And he’s also best friends with Jamie Drysdale, whom the Flyers just acquired. And the third of their friend group? Anaheim native Cam York. If the Flyers are really all about culture, building a young nucleus that are friends on and off the ice could lead to above average chemistry.
Zegras was also drafted by then-GM Bob Murray, who recently took a job in the Flyers’ front office as a senior advisor, and was apparently a major reason for the green-lit Drysdale trade.
And really, the Flyers could use a sure thing when it comes to marketing the future around a player who’s actually present. Gauthier isn’t in the picture anymore and Matvei Michkov’s arrival is still TBD, and in a worst case, it’s possible he doesn’t play for the organization either.
Having someone like Zegras also opens the door for other free agents to play in Philly. The Flyers organization has been completely and totally inept when it comes to signing free agents for over a decade now, but having a roster that features someone like Zegras will make it easier to draw the attention of more stars if they ever decide to improve the team from the outside.
Just imagine a top line of Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras and Tyson Foerster in a few years from now. That’s what a contending team’s scoring line should look like.
The Flyers have at least one draft pick in every round for the next three years, including seven total in the first two rounds of 2024 and 2025, and an AHL roster full of NHL-caliber prospects that do not have a main roster spot locked up due to the overcrowding. There are enough assets at Briere’s disposal where he could easily craft a trade without losing any of their key prospects.
And quite frankly reducing down some of their out of control pipeline depth in favor of a bonafide star may be better for the future anyway. Focus on a few prospects they feel have bright futures instead of playing musical chairs with the obscene number of fringe-NHLers they’re dealing with now. It streamlines the development process, and gives the players they trade to Anaheim a fighting chance to better their own careers.
Is it a long shot the Flyers actually throw their hat in the ring on this one? Yes.
Is Zegras the exact type of player the team desperately needs to add? Also yes.
The Flyers just made a major deal with the Ducks. It’s clear those lines of communication are open (though playing Devil’s advocate, if the Flyers were interested they could’ve attempted to make a big trade even bigger and shipped out Gauthier and acquired Zegras in the same NHL24-style trade). But that doesn’t mean two separate deals can’t be in the works.
Whatever the price tag may be, Danny Briere and the Flyers need to consider circling back to the Ducks and try to add a crown jewel to their rebuilding efforts if they’re serious about turning the Flyers around. It’s not everyday an opportunity like this arrises, and it could be the defining moment in recent Flyers’ history if a trade is actually made
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit:
brotherlypuck.com 