Trevor Zegras became an instant fan favorite in his first season with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Long Island native returned to the East Coast and brought the sunshine of Anaheim with him. He put up 41 points in as many games to start last season, hanging up the phone on his former team to cap off the first half.
Things were hit and miss from there, with Zegras and the Flyers getting hot again in March and April to make the playoffs, a first for the forward and a first for Philadelphia since 2020.
So when Zegras was due for a new contract this summer, there was little doubt that Danny Briere and Keith Jones would make sure to take care of business.
The two sides were able to avoid arbitration, agreeing to a four-year, $36 million contract last week. He spoke about the negotiations, why he loves playing in Philadelphia, and his role next season on Tuesday afternoon.
Zegras had classy negotiations with Flyers
“I think we went back and forth on a couple of different ideas for term, and I think four years just seemed like a good sweet spot for what both sides wanted to get out of it,” Zegras said. “I’m very excited that that’s what we could do.”
Zegras signed his four-year deal just days before Drysdale inked his four-year pact. The former Ducks-turned-Flyers both avoided arbitration, which Zegras knows is a path that no one wants to go down.
“I don’t think anybody wants to go to arbitration,” he said. “So it was really nice that we were able to get something done before then.”
This wasn’t Zegras’ first time going into an offseason without a contract, but last time he had no arbitration rights.
“I think the biggest difference was that there was a set time and date that it had to be done by, whereas last time it was just whenever it gets done, which is hard,” Zegras said. “It’s harder mentally when you don’t really see the finish line.”
Last time, it was Pat Verbeek and the Ducks that held all the cards, and they held all of them all the way until finally agreeing to a three-year, $17.25 million contract with Zegras on October 2, 2023.
That was the beginning of the end for Zegras in Anaheim, as he had less than two weeks to prepare for the season after missing training camp. He ended up playing a career-low 31 games that campaign, and was never the same player again for the Ducks.
Zegras made sure to note how classy the Flyers’ front office was regarding the negotiations.
“But Danny and Jonesy and everybody, they were very classy with how they handled it and how they dealt with it.”
The two sides even had some friendly chats before getting down to business.
“I actually talked to Danny a couple times before we even started doing the contract negotiations, which was awesome,” he continued. “They’re just good people, so it definitely helps.”
Zegras excited to help Flyers at center or wing
There was very little doubt that Zegras would want to sign at least a mid-to-long-term contract with the Flyers, which is what he got on his four-year deal. After going through the motions during his last few. years in Anaheim, Zegras led the charge in Philadelphia.
“I think I just had a lot of fun being at the rink and being around the guys. I find it lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing people, from the guys to the coaching staff to Danny and Jonesy, Dan Hilferty,” Zegras said. “I found that it was just a very good situation for me mentally and it was a lot of fun on the ice, too.”
Of course, Zegras put up career-highs with 26 goals and 67 points during his 81 games in Orange and Black. He started the season in a hybrid role on the wing with Christian Dvorak, but played down the middle in the final weeks of the season and into the playoffs.
No one can be too sure where Zegras will line up to start the season, but he’s ready for whenever and wherever his number is called.
“I feel pretty comfortable in both spots, whether it’s in the middle or on the wing,” he said. “So wherever they need me to play, I’m more than comfortable in both spots.
“I thought playing center in the playoffs was definitely something that gave me a lot of confidence. So I think wherever they need me, I’m good to go.”
Zegras isn’t a hulking presence, standing at just 6’0″ and 185 lbs, so he knows he has to work on things if he wants to solidify himself in the middle of the ice. That includes in the faceoff circle, where he won just 34.1% of his draws last season.
“I think some of it starts in the gym and just getting bigger and stronger,” he said. “But I think a lot of it was reps and repetition and taking a ton of faceoffs, even against your own guys in practice or after practice, and just picking up on little things that guys against you do.”
The Flyers’ current roster construction leaves Zegras’ role up in the air. Dvorak, Noah Cates, and Sean Couturier can all play center, as can Noel Acciari if needed. Denver Barkey also got a chance down the middle in the playoffs, so there is depth there if the Flyers want to keep Zegras at wing.
Then again, it’s not as if the Flyers are thin on the outside, with Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone, and Matvei Michkov already taking up five of the six top-nine winger roles.
Things could’ve changed if the Flyers landed Leo Carlsson, and they still could if Briere makes another move.
For now, though, Zegras is confident playing wherever he has to as the Flyers look to build on last year’s playoff series win.
“I think we’re in a great spot. I think that was just the beginning last year,” Zegras said. “I think we got a lot of confidence as a group for how we played after the break and how we all came together and knew that it was going to be really hard to come out of that and make the playoffs and then to win a round. I think that was great for what we’re trying to build, and hopefully we pick up where we left off.”
