By Corey Pronman, Sean Gentille and Shayna Goldman
Philadelphia Flyers get: F Trevor Zegras
Anaheim Geese get: F Ryan Poehling, 2025 second-round choose (No. 45), 2026 fourth-round choose
Corey Pronman: Zegras’ time in Anaheim was tumultuous. After a stellar rookie season the place he dazzled, he encountered some bumps and annoyed his teaching employees over the previous few years. He’s a participant with elite ability and hockey sense. NHL scouts have puzzled if he could be a constant 70- to 80-point participant, given his remarkably expert and artistic talents.
He could be a legit top-six ahead and may profit an influence play. Nevertheless, he additionally has noticeable warts in his sport. He’s a below-average NHL skater who takes too many shifts and video games off and rubs individuals the improper method. Philadelphia has been looking for a middle, and whereas Zegras has performed middle earlier than, it’s questionable if he can pivot in a big position on NHL staff.
It’s a dramatic decline in worth as effectively for a participant Anaheim hoped to get a excessive first-round choose or main younger asset in return for when it first put him available on the market. Zegras supporters will argue it’s a possible buy-low situation for the Flyers, given his huge potential, NHL monitor file and cheap contract.
His critics will say he’s not a “winner” and it’s addition by subtraction for the Philadelphia whereas opening up alternatives for the Geese’ plethora of proficient younger forwards.
I perceive the latter argument, however the caliber of participant, mixed with the low value paid for him, appears slightly off. It is a savvy transfer by the Flyers, which gave up little or no, and if it doesn’t work out, they’ll transfer him once more in a rising cap atmosphere. Owen Tippett had comparable points in Florida, and the Flyers did good work turning him right into a helpful NHL ahead.
Ryan Poehling is a 2026 free agent. He’s a hardworking middle with good expertise, however he’s not dynamic when it comes to his tempo and creativity. He’s a bottom-six ahead.
Flyers grade: A-
Geese grade: C+
Sean Gentille: In the summertime of 2023, Zegras was 22 years outdated and coming off his second straight season with not less than 20 targets and 60 factors, one wherein he shared the quilt of EA’s NHL 23. Not dangerous.
Round that very same time, Ryan Poehling was non-qualified by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the equal of a staff saying, “Thanks, however no thanks.” Not good.
Now, one way or the other, three years later, Poehling was the first participant the Geese introduced again in a commerce that, on their finish, was extra about dumping Zegras’ wage than anything.
The truth that Anaheim moved on from Zegras — Michigan targets and all — shouldn’t shock anybody. He has been too ceaselessly injured and ineffective for many of the previous two seasons, which has hindered his momentum on and off the ice.
Taking part in for Dallas Eakins and Greg Cronin most likely didn’t assist. Zegras is an imperfectly electrical participant, and ditching an excessive amount of of that on the street to two-way accountability feels prefer it was a Pyrrhic victory. Zegras’ title has been a part of commerce rumors for years. If that is what he’s value, one line of logic goes, that is what he’s value.
Nonetheless, in case you assume that to be true, the query for Anaheim ought to be why hassle shifting a 24-year-old with high-end offensive upside and (dampened) star energy if the return is an honest fourth-line middle, the forty fifth choose in a single draft and a fourth-rounder from one other?
The very best argument is that Zegras counts $5.75 million in opposition to the cap for another season and future contract talks, given his profession arc, might get weird. The Geese even have extensions for different younger forwards — particularly, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish — to think about down the road.
Alternatively, they’re nonetheless greater than $36 million underneath the wage cap, based on PuckPedia. With solely Pittsburgh beginning the summer time in conventional “vendor” mode, why not wait and see how the market seems in per week or two? It’s laborious to think about it being worse. That truth alone makes it unimaginable to provide Anaheim something aside from a mediocre mark right here. It’s not simply concerning the underwhelming return; it’s concerning the street that introduced them to it.
In the meantime, the Flyers bought themselves a lottery ticket with strong odds. If Zegras’ well being holds up, his worst-case situation most likely lands him as an offense-only middle-six winger with power-play utility. His upside: the precise type of high-end, top-six middle that they’ve been unable so as to add throughout their rebuild.
The Athletic, earlier than the commerce, ranked their center depth chart second from the bottom within the NHL. Regardless, Philadelphia desperately wants one other potential offensive star to pair with Matvei Michkov, presumably on the identical line, presumably not, and Zegras has an opportunity to fill the invoice.
These kinds of gamers are finest added by the draft. If that’s not an choice — and for the Flyers, it doesn’t appear to be — then it’s time to hunt a distinct route. There’s lots to love concerning the one they’ve chosen. It’s not simply concerning the participant; it’s concerning the match.
Flyers grade: A
Geese grade: D+
Shayna Goldman: The massive query round Zegras over the previous few years is whether or not he has the chops to be a real franchise cornerstone to construct round. At this level, it doesn’t appear to be the case. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply the Geese ought to have shipped him off in an imbalanced deal.
Zegras has his flaws: He isn’t an ideal play-driver and has some defensive gaps in his sport. After making some enhancements in his zone in a condensed 2023-24, he took a step again this previous season with the Geese, permitting 0.26 extra anticipated targets in opposition to per 60 relative to the remainder of the staff.
And in contrast to seasons previous, the offense wasn’t sufficient to make up for it. Protection is a team-wide drawback in Anaheim, and it appears to be overwhelming Zegras at this level. Pair that with a number of the comps for Zegras at 24 and 25 years outdated — from Robby Fabbri and Chris Tierney to Sam Gagner — and there’s motive to fret about his trajectory from right here.
However even when Zegras isn’t value the identical hype that he as soon as was, it doesn’t make sufficient sense to promote him this low. Even when administration needed a deal carried out sooner quite than later, to enter subsequent season with a clear slate, there’s nonetheless a complete offseason forward.
Ryan Poehling addresses the Geese’ bottom-six want for extra defensive upside, however he plus a second-rounder doesn’t thread the needle sufficient. As a result of even when Zegras isn’t meant to be the No. 1 middle of a contender, his offensive strengths might be value betting on in a distinct top-six capability. Playoff groups nonetheless want complementary expertise round their massive weapons, and there are indicators that Zegras might be that. His creativity and puck-moving means, which nonetheless monitor effectively based on AllThreeZones, are value investing in.
Regardless that Zegras’ worth has declined, it is smart for a rebuilding staff just like the Flyers. Philadelphia has a defensive construction and powerful two-way forwards, like Noah Cates and Sean Couturier. What they want is extra high-octane offensive ability round Michkov and extra depth down the center, so he checks each of these containers.
Regardless, this stays a chance for the Flyers, nevertheless it’s a low-risk, high-return wager value investing in.
Flyers grade: B+
Geese grade: C-
(Photograph: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Photos)
