HIGHLIGHTS
- The Flyers acquired forward Trevor Zegras from the Ducks on Monday.
- Anaheim received Ryan Poehling and two draft picks in a surprisingly low return
- Read below for the full trade breakdown and what this means for both clubs
Remember Trevor Zegras on the cover of NHL 23? Those days feel like a lifetime ago.
The Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a stunner on Monday, acquiring the 24-year-old forward from the Anaheim Ducks for Ryan Poehling, a second-round pick (45th overall) in 2025, and a 2026 fourth-rounder. That’s it. That’s the whole return.
What a wild fall in value. Just two years ago, Zegras was hockey’s next big thing, dropping jaws with Michigan goals and alley-oop assists. Now he’s getting shipped out for a bottom-six forward and spare parts.
Injuries haven’t helped. Zegras managed 32 points in 57 games this season while battling through another injury-plagued campaign. He’s missed 76 games over the past two years, including a seven-week stint after knee surgery.
“While this was a difficult trade to make, we have and will continue to look at retooling our roster over the next couple of months, and this transaction is part of that process,” Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said.
Translation: Anaheim gave up on developing one of its most exciting young players.
For context, Poehling actually had 31 points last season. One fewer than Zegras, but in 11 more games. When your young offensive star is barely outproducing a fourth-liner, the red flags are obvious.
Still, this is a solid low-risk, high-reward bet by Philly. GM Daniel Briere is buying low on a young player who desperately needed a change of scenery. And at this price, why not take the shot?
Zegras lands in Philly with a chance to reset. Pairing him with Matvei Michkov could produce fireworks. Getting reunited with his buddy Jamie Drysdale should help, too. The vibes alone might be worth a second-rounder.
The skill that made Zegras a Calder Trophy finalist in 2022 is still there. When healthy, the New York native can be electric. Maybe he needed out of Anaheim as much as they apparently wanted him gone.
Ducks fans are furious, calling the trade a “fleece” and an “awful” piece of asset management. Many believe Zegras’s development was hindered by his coaches in Anaheim, and a new environment could easily see him return to a point-per-game player.
The biggest question for Zegras in Philly will be his fit with head coach Rick Tocchet. There are concerns that Tocchet’s defense-first system might stifle the creativity that makes Zegras so special.
Zegras has one year remaining on his contract at a $5.75 million cap hit before becoming a restricted free agent.
If he can stay healthy and rediscover his offensive flair alongside a player like Michkov, this trade could look like an absolute steal for the Flyers.
