When Trevor Zegras was traded to Philadelphia on June 23, the Flyers attempted to address their issues at center. However, as most are well aware, Zegras and Flyers general manager Danny Briere are going to have to figure a few things out as the season plays out.
Zegras is currently in the third and final year of a $17.25 million contract ($5.75 million AAV), so he’ll need a new contract as he is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season. As much as Briere and the Flyers would love to have Zegras around for the foreseeable future, there are a few things he could certainly do that would help make that conversation a lot easier and smoother when it arises. Here then are five ways Zegras can ensure that this season is the first of many as a Philadelphia Flyer, not an experimental one-and-done.
Stay healthy
Possibly the simplest way to ensure a good season is to be healthy. But that hasn’t been so simple for Zegras. He missed a mere eight games over his first two full seasons in Anaheim. They were also the only two seasons Zegras amassed 60 points or more each year. In 2023-24, the forward played only 31 games. On Nov. 10, 2023, Zegras sustained an injury which caused him to go on injured reserve on Nov. 13. He missed the next 20 games. He returned just before the Christmas break, but it wasn’t three weeks later he was injured again, this time his ankle in a game against Nashville.
Without going into great detail, Zegras had surgery and missed the next 31 games. He returned in late March but by then the season was essentially done, giving him a chance to get in some games before the summer and offseason arrived.
The following season, Zegras looked 100 per cent. However in December he had to go under the knife, missing 22 games to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He returned in late January and was healthy the rest of the way. There was a three-game suspension. But outside of that he spent the rest of the season working himself (and his knee) back into optimal performance. He ended 2024-25 with just 32 points, and at times seemingly butting heads with former Ducks coach Greg Cronin over whether he’d be playing center (his preferred position) or the wing.
A healthy Zegras would allow both the player to prove himself to the Flyers as well as give Briere a much better and clearer picture of what he’s capable of. And how that could help the Flyers moving forward. It sounds like a simple thing to achieve. Such an achievement would be a huge bonus for all concerned.
Improve the power play
No one player, not even Matvei Michkov, should have to carry the burden of getting a horrible power play towards respectability. But there hasn’t been a youthful forward like Zegras (outside of Michkov) who might have the chops to get the man advantage success rate out of the basement. He’s not built like Wayne Simmonds, getting a horde of garbage goals in the dirty areas screening a goaltender. Nor does he have a howitzer that can routinely beat a goaltender clean from far away (although the video below shows otherwise). But he should be able to show his power play smarts on the first unit, possibly with Michkov and Travis Konecny as his linemates.
Zegras managed all of four power play points last season (a goal and three assists). That doesn’t say much but then again the Flyers’ power play fared better than the Ducks last year (dead last with a 11.8 per cent success rate). In 2023-24 Anaheim was 25th at 17.9 per cent. The season before that? Well it was only better than the Flyers, finishing 31st at 15.7 per cent. Over his career, Zegras has 15 goals and 24 assists on the power play.
If Zegras and Michkov can light things up, or at least look like they can read what the other might be doing on the first unit (assuming both are on the first unit), then things might fall into place a lot easier for Zegras in Philadelphia. Although there will be highs and lows, you’d love to see the power play get off on the right foot. Particularly one from a team who has been brutal the last few seasons. One thing is the power play will come with fresh players and fresh ideas. None from Rocky Thompson. A good start to the power play would make the Flyers far more competitive and have them not holding their sticks as tightly. It could also help the goaltenders, knowing a weak goal could be atoned for with an effective power play. It would also give Zegras an extra sense of comfort that he still has that “it” factor. “Michigans” are nice, but the Flyers would probably be over the moon with a 20 per cent power play efficiency.
Win Tocchet’s trust
Zegras and new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet have a clean slate starting this year. Neither has done anything to piss the other off, or nothing that would put Zegras in Tocchet’s doghouse. So if Zegras can get going and produce in the opening month, he’ll earn some trust with Tocchet and the coaching staff. If he is able to play somewhere close to the level of defensive responsibility of Sean Couturier or Noah Cates and put up loads of points, then Briere is offering him the extension now. And it’s probably a blank cheque.
Nobody is expecting Zegras to win the Selke. But hopefully he’s not jumping the zone at the risk of losing his own man in the Flyers defensive zone. If he’s making the little plays, making the smart plays and doing it quickly, chances are Tocchet will let Zegras run and gun a bit more. Zegras had his two biggest offensive seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23 where he had 61 and 65 points, respectively. He also had his two worst seasons concerning +/- as he was -21 in 2021-22 and -24 in 2022-23. His only year above 0 was his 24-game stint in 2020-21, where he had 13 points and was +6. So if he’s not a huge defensive liability, he should win brownie points with Tocchet. Of course if he puts up 80 to 90 points this season, those lapses will be a heck of a lot more forgivable.
If he wins that trust early, it’s also a good possibility Tocchet starts rewarding him with more offensive zone faceoffs. Zegras saw his point totals dwindle the last few years due to injury. But also because he wasn’t often put in a position to succeed.
| Offensive Zone Starts | Neutral Zone Starts | Defensive Zone Starts | Offensive Zone Start Percentage | |
| 2020-21 | 72 | 72 | 23 | 75.79 |
| 2021-22 | 224 | 199 | 48 | 82.35 |
| 2022-23 | 247 | 258 | 80 | 75.54 |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 72 | 45 | 53.61 |
| 2024-25 | 114 | 125 | 98 | 53.77 |
Naturally, you want your best offensive producers to have a lot of offensive zone starts. It only increases the percentages in terms of scoring. As you can see, Zegras was used in positions where he would be more successful his first three seasons than he would be in his previous two years. But in his two injury-shortened seasons, the offensive zone starts came closer to mirroring the starts in his own zone, making it harder to generate points. Clearly, Anaheim hasn’t been on the cusp of a Stanley Cup the last few seasons,. Yet seeing that drop in percentages demonstrates he simply lost the trust of Cronin. The Flyers are hoping Tocchet and Zegras find some synergy and blossom together. We also hope he blossoms with another player, which brings us to the fourth thing.
Find chemistry with Michkov
Matvei Michkov enters his sophomore season with possibly a better idea of who his center might be. The assumption is that Zegras will be one of the top six (or top line) centers for all of 2025-26. And if that’s the case, it’s a good bet that he will be seeing Michkov on his line most evenings (and afternoons). So if Michkov ends up finding some kind of telepathy with another high-end talented forward like Zegras, that will definitely improve the fortunes of the Flyers this year and in the coming seasons. Finding that success, or at the very least generating some chances and looking like they’re in harmony in terms of playmaking, will be massive. If the duo look completely lost out of the gate, that won’t be a huge issue in the big picture but might be more concerning. It might be a question of getting the reps and practice time together to iron any issues out. The only thing you don’t want is for Tocchet to endure another J.T. Miller/Elias Pettersson fiasco if Michkov and Zegras don’t mesh or see eye to eye. If that happens, then chances are Zegras could be gone around the trade deadline.
Zegras and Michkov should be given every opportunity to play together, whether on the same line or on the same power play unit to start the year. Whether they click on the power play first and then at even strength (or vice versa) is irrelevant. The tandem could be the difference between the Flyers stumbling down the stretch or hitting another gear with the playoffs a reality, not a tragic number countdown. You don’t need to see Zegras finishing off Michkov’s sentences in Russian or posting Instagram photos where they’re together in Dubai, but a connection on the ice early in October would be terrific.
Seize the moment
The Zegras addition is probably the biggest part of the rebuild puzzle to be added since 2023 when Michkov was drafted. The forward is coming to a team that is eager to get back on track, much like himself. Zegras also has some buds in Jamie Drysdale and Cam York who he’s been figuratively joined at the hip to for some time now. So anything off-ice in terms of adjustments or logistics should be a lot easier and smoother for him.
As well, while he’s been by far the most talented piece coming to the Flyers this offseason, he probably will be not blinded by the spotlight. The Flyers still have Michkov of course, who will be in the headlines throughout the season. A new head coach will also see that glare diminished slightly. And with the goaltending issues the Flyers are trying to solve slightly, Dan Vladar will certainly be front and center as well as Sam Ersson. Throw in Tyson Foerster recovering from his injury, York starting a new five-year contract and contracts concluding this season for Drysdale and Bobby Brink and you have a lot of players under the spotlight in 2025-26. Zegras will face his fair share of questions, but there are a lot of storylines this year.
It’s not like Zegras is heading to Edmonton where a Stanley Cup Final is no longer considered a success and he has to be the guy. It’s the Flyers, home of the horrible power play, abysmal goaltending and five straight years without the playoffs. And Gritty. And a new arena name. Zegras should take this opportunity to prove Anaheim was wrong for trading him, while proving that he belongs in Philadelphia far beyond this coming season. Everyone is pulling for him to succeed. Hopefully he and the Flyers do just that.