Well, that didn't take long, as the summer blockbusters have begun. The Flyers just made a big move, acquiring Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks, bringing in a player who can become part of what's one of the most exciting brewing cores in the NHL.
Zegras has spent his entire career with the Ducks and had shown a lot of promise. But he'd been the subject of trade rumors since at least the 2024 trade deadline. Yeah, so this one's been a long time coming, and it'd always been a matter of if, as opposed to when, for Zegras.
So, will Zegras improve the Flyers recent fortunes? Well, here's the short answer: Maybe. Zegras has been up and down throughout his time in Southern California, but he's shown enough promise to justify a blockbuster deal.
What did the Flyers give up to acquire Zegras?
Of course, that one leads us to the burning question, now, does it? This one cost the Flyers Ryan Poehling, the No. 45 pick in 2025, and a fourth-rounder in 2026.
And hey, that's a deal I would make any day of the week. As opposed to sitting and waiting on whether that second-rounder would even pan out. Or, knowing the fourth-rounder probably never will, why not take a gamble on someone who's at least put up decent numbers a time or two in his career?
The Ducks are turning into routine trading partners for the Flyers
You might remember that, when Cutter Gauthier made it clear he didn't want to play in Philly, that the Flyers sent him to Anaheim for Jamie Drysdale, so there's a Southern California flair going on right now in the City of Brotherly Love.
Like Zegras, Drysdale showed promise in Anaheim, but never ventured too far one way or the other before the trade. He showed flashes in his first 24 games with the Flyers, logging five points and 27 blocks. This season, he became an artist at blocking shots, recording 102 of them, along with seven goals and 20 points.
Now, the question is: Can Zegras follow the same path? Hey, sometimes a change of scenery works for high-potential players like Zegras. This was a player who finished 2021-22 with 61 points and 23 goals before following that success up with another 23 goals and 65 points.
That said, I'm feeling confident in Zegras. And I can't wait to see what kind of chemistry he will build with other members of that young Flyers core.
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