The Philadelphia Flyers have a star in Trevor Zegras, and he probably always had superstar potential. If the Anaheim Ducks utilized him right, there's a good chance he would have been one of the faces of that young franchise, but their loss is the Flyers' gain.
Zegras hasn't disappointed, putting up 16 points and four goals in 16 games, and looking like the player fans in Southern California always envisioned him to be. For a team like the Flyers who need long-term stability from a player capable of producing points game after game, they need to sign Zegras to an extension immediately, no questions asked.
Prominent names like Elliotte Friedman also appear to be on board with the idea. Zegras may have injury concerns, which propped up during his time with the Ducks and stagnated his production. But he was also misused in Anaheim, something that doesn't seem to be an issue in Philadelphia. That constant misuse is what likely led to Zegras' productivity lapses, so if the Flyers don't make the same mistakes, then don't expect his playmaking to falter.
Philadelphia Flyers need a player to excite the fans and build around
Right now, the Flyers have very few forwards signed to long-term deals. Travis Konecny is solid, as is Sean Couturier, but they don't bring the same energy as the 24-year-old Zegras. Konecny can produce, having put up 24 goals and 76 points in 2024-25, but he doesn't carry the superstar potential that Zegras boasts.
Owen Tippett is signed until 2032, but he's nowhere near capable of producing points the way Zegras has shown. Tippett's best season came in 2023-24, when he finished the year with 53 points and 28 goals. Tippett has proven he can put up steady production, but he's not the type of player you build a team around.
Zegras is that player, and as a playmaker, he's also capable of elevating the production of everyone around him. For a team that is 29th in the league with 40 goals scored on the year, the Flyers must keep players who look like good fits and can help reverse that bleak trend. Through only 16 games, Zegras has already shown that capability.
Extending Trevor Zegras now will add much-needed stability for the Flyers
If the Flyers want to start winning consistently, extending Zegras is the fastest way to get there. Not only would it immediately show that the Flyers are committed to Zegras long-term the quicker they sign him to a deal, but other players outside the organization will be watching this.
Make Zegras your marquee player, and, combined with his overall youth and productivity, solid supporting players looking for a new home are more likely to consider continuing their respective careers in Philadelphia.
You want a good, young core capable of sticking around for a while, but you also need to bring in outside help. And a lot of those players coming in from the outside will want to play for teams that are either in contention or showing signs that they're on the verge of contention.
They'll also be looking to land in a spot with a star player guaranteed to be there for the long haul. So, not only should the Flyers extend Zegras because he looks like a good fit and is producing the way fans expected him to, but he will have the ability to attract free agents to town in the summer of 2026 and beyond.