What a Trevor Zegras trade could look like for the Philadelphia Flyers

Things between Trevor Zegras and the Anaheim Ducks may not be too secure these days.

According to reports, the Ducks and Trevor Zegras were working on a new contract over the offseason and at times, things got “ugly” which now makes him considered to be available ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 8th. 

The young forward has been brought up as a potential trade target by fans of many teams, but now there may be some traction to what simply seemed to be “fan speak” just a month ago. 

Philly fans immediately linked Zegras to their team after the Flyers acquired defenseman Jamie Drysdale in return for Cutter “The Traitor” Gauthier in early January, citing Drysdale and Zegras’ public friendship as a reason why the deal makes sense.

That being said, with Zegras reportedly available, it got me thinking…

What would it cost to bring Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia? 

To start, they will more than likely require a first-round pick. In fact, I will confidently say this trade will not happen without a first-round pick being included. That won’t be an issue for Philly, as they have at the very least two this year alone, and are also commanding a first in return for Sean Walker. 

I don’t think the picks will stop there. Zegras’ name and marketability make him a valuable piece, but his skill will command a large return for the young star. A second-round pick will likely be required alongside the first. The Flyers have the Ducks’ 2025 second-round pick, which they got in the Drysdale trade, which they could send back to Anaheim in a potential Zegras trade. 

The picks are all but certain to be included in any Zegras trade with any team. Before the Frank Seravalli report, it did not seem like there would be a bidding war for Anaheim’s young star, but now that Seravalli reported him to be available, that may all change. 

If it was not needed before, young players will need to be involved in any Zegras trade. A Bleacher Report article from Jan. 16th listed five potential trade partners for Zegras (Philly was not one), and each mock trade included at least a first-round pick, and some even with second/third-round pick, along with either a young player or a prospect. 

With a bidding war likely to come, I can see it now taking a prospect AND a young player, depending on the value of each player given up. 

For Philly, they have options…

Trading the FLA first-round pick from the Giroux trade along with Anaheim’s 2025 second-round pick will give Philly a good shot to land Zegras, but it will come down to who they send over along with the picks. 

One of Philly’s NCAA prospects along with another young player either in the AHL or a very young NHL player should be enough to bring Zegras to Philly. 

An NCAA prospect like Owen McLaughlin (9-20-29, UND) could be an enticing prospect for Anaheim along with a young player, or the Flyers could offer a prospect like Massimo Rizzo (10-34-44, Denver), without another young player, and see if that is enough. 

Anaheim will likely ask about the availability of young Flyers like Bobby Brink, Morgan Frost, and Tyson Foerster, but I don’t see Daniel Briere trading either of those players. Instead, I can see Philadelphia trying to send an AHL player to Anaheim like Zayde Wisdom or Wade Allison, along with one more mid-round draft pick to help seal the trade.  

With all of this being said, it is still somewhat of a mystery what an actual Trevor Zegras trade would look like, and how interested the Flyers are in the 22-year-old forward. With the NHL trade deadline coming on March 8th, it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jae C. Hong, Associated Press