Trevor Zegras is eager to put the struggles of the past few seasons behind him.
The 24-year-old forward, celebrated for his inventive playmaking and offensive skill, has appeared in just 88 games over the last two campaigns—seasons hampered by injuries and challenges adapting to former Ducks coach Greg Cronin’s system.
When the Flyers acquired Zegras from the Ducks during the offseason, it signaled a commitment to providing the young forward with an environment to rediscover his game. For Zegras, the move represented a chance to reinvent himself. He arrived at the Flyers Training Facility in Voorhees Township three weeks before camp began, dedicating time to refine his skills while also building chemistry with his new teammates.
Both Sides Needed Each Other
Zegras recorded back-to-back 23-goal seasons in 2021–22 and 2022–23, tallying 61 points in 75 games and 65 points in 81 games, respectively. Yet under Greg Cronin’s coaching, his tenure with the Ducks was marred not only by frequent injuries but also by evident frustration. At one point, Zegras scored a goal and displayed little to no emotion—a stark contrast to the enthusiastic celebrations that had defined his earlier career and underscored the joy he once drew from scoring.
This only reinforced the notion that Zegras wasn’t truly permitted to play as himself—the dynamic, creative player whose unique style had propelled him to the NHL in the first place. Furthermore, Zegras moved from center to wing, which clearly hampered rather than helped his performance. To the delight of Zegras, the Flyers have placed him back at center.
“I think starting in the middle is good,” Zegras told reporters. “I feel more comfortable there, I guess coming through the ice with speed. I’ve played center my whole hockey career up until last season.
“Confidence for sure. They want me there and they trust me there. Obviously, it’s going to be some work for sure, but it’s definitely a great start.”
It also helps to have a head coach intimately familiar with the professional game. Rick Tocchet brings nearly two decades of NHL experience as a player, paired with a wealth of coaching knowledge. He understands how to maximize a player’s strengths, placing individuals in roles—such as moving a natural center to the wing or vice versa—that benefit both the team and the system. Under his guidance, players are positioned to thrive while simultaneously helping to establish the identity necessary for a team to contend for a Stanley Cup.
“I feel like it’s pretty easy to trust a guy like that,” Zegras said of his new coach “I think the team is going to play kind of how he played and try to form that identity. I think that’s all something we can get behind.”
The Tocchet Edge
Unlike Cronin, who had five years of college experience, Tocchet carries not only an edge in professional playing experience, but adds in the fact that he's played in a Stanley Cup Final and knows a thing or two about chemistry, namely, which guys would work best with one another, personality types, complementary skill sets, etc. During the first day of training camp, Tocchet immediately saw chemistry between Zegras and Travis Konecny.
Zegras felt it, too.
“It definitely helps, yes,” Zegras said. “You try to give it to him as much as you can, for sure. He’s very good.”
It's very clear that Zegras on the Flyers is the best of both worlds for the 2024-25 campaign.