In a move that has shaken up the NHL offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks. In exchange, Anaheim receives center Ryan Poehling, the 45th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
A fresh start for Trevor Zegras and the Flyers
Zegras, 24, was once one of the league’s most electric young players, recording back-to-back 60+ point seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. But injuries—most notably knee surgery and an ankle issue—have slowed his trajectory the past two years. In 57 games last season, he tallied 12 goals and 32 points.
Now, the 2019 ninth overall pick gets a clean slate in Philadelphia, where he’s expected to compete for a middle-six center role but could also slot in on the wing.
Flyers bet on upside—and familiarity
Flyers GM Danny Brière clearly sees value in the skillset of Trevor Zegras. With Cam York (a close friend of Zegras) and Jamie Drysdale (his former Ducks teammate) already in the locker room, the team is betting that chemistry and environment could unlock his full potential again.
Though Zegras has just one year left on his contract ($5.75M cap hit), he’ll still be a restricted free agent in 2026, giving the Flyers some long-term control.
What the Flyers gave up
Philadelphia parts ways with Ryan Poehling, a 26-year-old center who posted 12 goals and 31 points last season. Poehling has been a dependable two-way presence, but the Flyers are deep at center and clearly felt comfortable making this deal, especially with plenty of draft capital still on the board.
The 2025 second-round pick involved in the trade originally came from Columbus in the Ivan Provorov deal. With the Flyers owning multiple second-rounders, this was a calculated risk.
This isn’t the first time the Flyers and Ducks have traded former top-10 picks. In 2024, Philadelphia sent Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a pick.
With Zegras now in the mix, the Flyers continue reshaping their core with talented young players who might not have succeeded elsewhere. But they could thrive in Philly’s evolving system.