With the news still fresh on the Philadelphia Flyers acquiring forward Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for two draft picks and center Ryan Poehling, the Flyers on the ice should have a bit more offensive upside from the 24-year-old forward. But with that addition comes a little bit more financial finagling Flyers general manager Danny Briere has to do moving forward. What will Zegras bring to the Flyers this year could determine a lot in terms of another bridge contract when his contract expires after this season, or signing Zegras up for the long haul.
Does a great season and instant chemistry possibly with Matvei Michkov mean a massive increase in his current earnings? Or does an average to substandard year cloudy the waters a little more, leaving Briere to consider the bridge deal more than anything else?
Well, first things first. In removing Poehling from the salary cap the Flyers shed $1.9 million off the books this season. Poehling had just this coming season remaining on his deal, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of 2025-26. So, while it’s not oodles of cash, it’s another bit of coin that can be used elsewhere. Whether it’s offsetting the cost of some younger restricted free agents wanting a raise in pay or being the slight difference in luring an unrestricted free agent on July 1, it’s almost $2 million extra wiggle room.
Now, on the other hand, Zegras is entering the third year of a three-year, $17.25-million deal that carries a cap hit of $5.75 million. Adding that and taking out Poehling’s contract, the Flyers now have $15.141 million in cap space with 11 forwards, six defensemen, and their two goalies signed. Of course, Jakob Pelletier and Cam York are the two restricted free agents that still need contracts, so that cap space will go down depending on the size of those two contracts. Even considering those two contracts, the Flyers could have upwards of $10 million of cap space with this roster fully in-tact.
Zegras was fantastic the last two years of his entry-level deal, scoring 23 goals with 38 assists for 61 points in 75 games in 2021-22. He one-upped that slightly in 2022-23, getting the same 23 goals but adding four more assists over the previous season for 65 points. On signing the latest contract, Zegras only played 31 games in 2023-24, with a mere six goals and nine assists for 15 points. This past season was somewhere in the middle, not as bad as 2023-24, but roughly half the production he saw in those two very good seasons with 12 goals and 20 assists in 57 games. Last December, Zegras went under the knife, fixing a torn meniscus in his right knee which sidelined him six weeks. Needless to say, it was probably a season he’d like to forget. Add in the fact Zegras often found himself on the wing and not his preferred position made things even more arduous.
So, with Zegras more than likely wanting to play center, and the Flyers more than willing to agree to that positioning, it seems like this should be a great fit. If Zegras is able to help Michkov get over the hurdles that sometimes comes with a player’s sophomore season, that’s worth money right there. If he’s able to rediscover that scoring touch while resurrecting a power play that hardly had a pulse the last three years, all the better. But above all, if Zegras comes in and rekindles some of that magic he had earlier in his career, with Michigan attempts galore, then the idea of signing Zegras next summer is a given. It’s doubtful a good to great first season in Philadelphia would result in both sides not finding common ground and ending up in arbitration. That doesn’t seem to me to be a piece of Briere’s tool belt given the first two years of his tenure.
The financial impact beyond next season
The biggest thing would be whether Briere would decide on simply giving Zegras a short “bridge” contract. Would Briere continue the precedent he has set so far with contracts to the younger Tyson Foerster? That might seem the most logical road, as Briere probably would need more of a sample size to ensure Zegras is worth the cap hit a capable top-line or second-line center would command — since the contract for a top-six center compared to a middle-six wing would differ greatly. It may also placate Zegras and his agent, as they would be lining themselves up for a larger contract a little further down the road. Particularly with the salary cap ceiling raising by leaps and bounds the next few seasons.
For example, a seven percent share of the 2026-27 cap ceiling (projected to be $104 million) would be $7.28 million. For the sake of argument, if Zegras and Philadelphia agreed to a two-year “bridge” contract after 2025-26, then Zegras’s next long-term contract would begin in 2028-29. With the projected cap for 2027-28 slated for $115 million, it’s reasonable to think the cap would be pushing $120 million. A seven per cent share of $120 million is $8.4 million. So, waiting a few seasons for his bigger payday would see him possibly making a million more a season. If he delivers what Briere, the Flyers and the fans are hoping for, then it’s doubtful Briere tries to pinch a few more pennies away from Zegras.
Another thing to consider, but it’s probably a non-starter, is the option of Briere simply hedging his bets and signing Zegras to an extension this coming July 1. He’s eligible for an extension then. But would Briere, who has preached common sense since the beginning of his time as general manager, roll the dice without Zegras playing a single game as a Flyer? Most likely not. So, let’s set that idea aside. When asked directly about Zegras and his next contract during a presser Monday, Briere was more concerned with how Zegras would play for Philadelphia.
One major thing to consider is what other contracts could be signed next summer, when Zegras also needs a new deal. As of now, forward Bobby Brink is the only other notable restricted free agent, but both Matvei Michkov and Tyson Foerster will be eligible for extensions on July 1, 2026. We have to assume, if everything goes according to plan, those will be long-term, sizeable contracts and it could limit how much the Flyers want to commit to Zegras — depending on how he performs next season.
On the blue line, the best friend of Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, is also a restricted free agent next summer — so is Egor Zamula and Emil Andrae but those will be manageable — and will need a new contract. And, goaltender Sam Ersson also needs a new deal as a restricted free agent. Basically, there are some key players on this roster that could be getting sizeable pay raises just as Zegras needs that final deal.
The massive benefit the Flyers will have, though, is that there is a lack of unrestricted free agents who have the option to take more money elsewhere and would be harder to keep. Nic Deslauriers, Rodrigo Abols, and Ivan Fedotov, are the only pending unrestricted free agents on the potential roster.
With a projected salary cap of $104 million for the 2026-27 season, the Flyers right now are expected to have about $49.9 million in cap space to sign those theoretical Zegras, Brink, and Drysdale contracts — but that number also doesn’t include what York is going to get this summer. Should still be enough to get contracts wrapped up, and potentially add someone in free agency, like the Flyers keep on mentioning.
With Zegras yet to meet the Flyers media and beat reporters, wear the hat, put on the jersey, say all the right things, and smile for the cameras, it’s hard to know what are comparables for him in terms of compensation down the road. And again, with an increase in the cap year over year, comparables will be used in terms of percentages of the cap, not necessarily the average annual value (AAV). What we do know is if Zegras produces and helps the team win, the contract talks will be amicable and probably negotiated quickly. It won’t be a distraction.
Zegras is possibly the center a lot of people have hoped for. Briere is hoping the same. And should he produce, Briere will more than likely keep him here for the long run and pay him accordingly. The hard part was possibly getting a center for the top line or second line. That’s done. And with very little subtracted in the process. The easy part should be regarding contract negotiations.
