New Flyers Forward Issues Honest Admission After Trade

The Philadelphia Flyers made their first significant move of the 2025 NHL offseason. The Flyers traded for Trevor Zegras in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks. Zegras had long been seen as a trade candidate. And Anaheim finally decided to pull the trigger this summer.

Zegras was once seen as a potential franchise cornerstone. The 24-year-old had back-to-back 60+ seasons before 2023-25. And his skill made him one of the most entertaining players in the league to watch. Unfortunately, things have not worked out.

Injuries have been a major hindrance for Zegras over the last two seasons. In fact, he has skated in less than 100 games since the start of 2023-24. When he was on the ice, though, his production took a nose dive.

Zegras acknowledged his production decline on Tuesday when speaking with the media. But he is looking forward to getting back on track with the Flyers following this trade.

“I guess from a production standpoint, it’s obviously not what I expect out of myself,” Zegras said Tuesday, via NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman. “I think it gets kind of lost a little bit, because I felt like I was doing all the right things and everything that I was asked to do.“… I think I definitely learned a lot over the last two years, I guess more about myself and what I’m capable of, and I definitely learned a lot, so I’m hopefully going to take all that to Philadelphia with me and be the best version of myself.”

Where Trevor Zegras Will Play in 2025-26

Sean M. Haffey/Getty ImagesTrevor Zegras could rediscover his form with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Philadelphia has a need for help in the top-six. No matter where Zegras plays, he is going to provide needed offensive punch. However, his positional deployment remains a question.

Zegras was drafted as a center, and this is his natural position. He certainly has the ability to anchor the second line. In saying this, Philadelphia could also put him on the wing. It’s still early, but there is not clear answer at this time.

“That’ll be more a question for (coach) Rick Tocchet; he’s going to decide where (Zegras) fits best,” Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said, via Kimelman. “We hope he can help in the center position, because that’s obviously an area that we could improve. But at the same time, if Rick decides that he’s better suited on the wing and there’s other guys that play better in the middle, he’s going to decide. But we certainly hope that he can help fill the void in the middle.”

Zegras Reunites With Familiar Flyers Faces

Zegras is not walking into Philadelphia entirely blind. He has some friends in the organization to help him out. Defensemen Jamie Drysdale and Cam York are friends with the 24-year-old.

“I’m best buddies with Jamie and Cam,” Zegras said, via Kimelman. “I lived with Jamie for two years in Anaheim and spent a lot of time with him. It’s exciting when you have a familiar face like that in a new place, in a new home. So, it’s really cool.”

Drysdale and Zegras have already connected. The newest Flyers forward posted an image of the two on Instagram following his trade from the Ducks.