ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a significant move on Monday, the Anaheim Ducks decided to trade Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers, marking the end of the dynamic forward’s turbulent five-year tenure in Orange County.
The Ducks acquired forward Ryan Poehling along with the 45th overall draft pick, initially held by Columbus, and an additional fourth-round pick for the following year. This strategic decision comes as Anaheim’s general manager, Pat Verbeek, seeks to realign the team’s structure in their effort to break a seven-year playoff drought.
Verbeek explained that Zegras, once the Ducks’ leading scorer, no longer fit within the team’s evolving roster. “We had to strategize around lineups and player synergies,” Verbeek stated. “Ultimately, this led us to the conclusion that moving Trevor was necessary.”
Zegras, a natural center with a playmaking mindset, was squeezed out of his preferred position by emerging talents Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish, both earning spots on Anaheim’s top two lines. With the recent addition of veteran Chris Kreider from the Rangers, who is familiar with Zegras from off-season training, the Ducks found even less room for Zegras at the center position.
Verbeek suggested that Philadelphia will provide a better environment for Zegras to excel at center. “In Philadelphia, he will likely have the opportunity to leverage his creativity from the center of the ice,” Verbeek said. Despite the Ducks benefiting from talents like Leo and Mason, Zegras was often pushed to less favorable positions.
Financial considerations also played a role in the trade. With Zegras entering restricted free agency next summer, alongside the need to re-sign key players like Carlsson and promising young talents Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, financial maneuvering became essential.
Poehling, noted for his speed and size, is anticipated to bolster the Ducks’ struggling special teams. Verbeek expressed confidence in Poehling’s ability to contribute significantly, particularly highlighting his prior performance as a top penalty killer for the Flyers, scoring 31 points last season—just one shy of Zegras’ tally.
Understanding the trade’s potential backlash, Verbeek acknowledged that some fans might not be pleased to part ways with Zegras, who maintained popularity even while the Ducks endured challenging seasons. Zegras was instrumental during his early seasons and finished as a Calder Trophy runner-up in 2022.
Renowned for executing the Michigan goal, Zegras gained recognition beyond Anaheim. However, his past two seasons were marred with injuries and inconsistent performances, resulting in just 47 points over 88 games. Despite increasing his output in the latter part of the last season, his defensive contributions were under scrutiny, though he showed improvement.
Loud trade rumors have surrounded Zegras in recent years, but Verbeek asserted that discussions remained minimal until this development. Additionally, Philadelphia’s general manager, Danny Briere, orchestrated another notable trade with Anaheim earlier this year, acquiring defenseman Jamie Drysdale for Zegras’ close friend, Cutter Gauthier.
Gauthier excelled in his rookie year with the Ducks, while Drysdale brought some challenges to Philadelphia’s defensive setup. The Flyers also introduced Rick Tocchet as their head coach for the upcoming season.
Poehling, having recorded 12 goals and 19 assists in 68 games last season, evolved as a reliable asset for Philadelphia since joining from Montreal and later Pittsburgh. His back-to-back strong seasons underscored his growth, offering Anaheim a promising addition as they build toward future success.