Philly Front Office

The Flyers tipped the first domino of their offseason today by sending Ryan Poehling, #45, and a 2026 4th to Anaheim for Trevor Zegras. Zegras is a natural center who had been playing wing in Anaheim and will probably move back now that he’s wearing the right color orange. The Ducks had signed him to a 3/$17.25m contract two years ago, but things haven’t worked out. At 24 years old, the former 9th overall pick gets a new team desperate for playmaking.

Wait a second, what do you mean things haven’t worked out?

Zegras has 4 full seasons under his belt in Anaheim. The first two were 23 goal, 60+ point outings that landed him a runner-up Calder finish and a future to dream on. The next two were injury plagued slogs that dropped his value to the point of nearly being traded for other damaged assets all last season. So which Zegras will the Flyers be getting?

While it is impossible to know, Zegras showed improvement last year as the season went on. His first 24 games he only had 9 total points. He then hit the shelf with right knee surgery. Upon his return, some of the old magic returned with 23 points in his final 33 games, a 57 point pace.

His value in Anaheim is/was at an all-time low. Swooping in to get him now is not unlike the Phillies trading for Jesus Luzardo this past offseason. Hopefully Zegras can get off to the kind of start the Phillies are seeing every 5 days.

What does it mean for the Flyers?

The Flyers are desperate for playmaking, especially someone who can get the puck to Matvei Michkov. The Flyers are taking a low risk on someone who clearly has talent in him and is still fairly young at a just-turned 24. Whether he gets top line minutes with Michkov is something to be seen, anyone who can move the puck is a sight for sore eyes.

The difference in contract between Poehling and Zegras is roughly $5m this season. The Flyers were set to have around $20m in cap space, but that lowers to around $15m with still a couple contracts left to sign in house this summer. Poehling was a good player, but he is a 4th line guy and imminently replaceable. We wish him well.

Salary-wise, Zegras is very low risk. Yes, he is making nearly $6m, but he only has 1-year left on his deal and is a restricted free agent after that. If Zegras doesn’t work out, no harm done. If he does, the Flyers have all the leverage to keep him around for a long time.

Don’t worry about that #45 draft pick. If there is one thing the Flyers can afford to lose right now, it’s 2025 picks. The Draft starts on Thursday and we are still picking at 6, 22, 31, 36, 40, and 48 in the first 2 rounds. I mean damn!

So how are we feeling about this?

FANTASTIC! The Flyers need to take swings on high reward, low risk guys like Zegras. His situation in Anaheim had deteriorated and the Flyers swooped in. In Philly, we are used to things going to the other way around. Usually it’s us depreciating an asset before moving on at the worst time. For once, we are on the other side. Hopefully he gets on with Michkov and we can return to this day talking about how it was a steal for the Flyers. If not, not a big deal.

Bonus

When the Flyers traded Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim, they brought in Jamie Drysdale who happens to be the best friend of Trevor Zegras. I’m going to assume Cutter was a d-hole to Trevor upon arriving in Anaheim (because I assume that’s his regular personality) and took credit for running his friend out of town, even going so far as saying “you’re next” to Zegras like Chong Li in Bloodsport. Now the two are reunited and reinvigorated over their hate for Gauthier, a feeling the whole city can get behind.