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Back on June 23, the Flyers acquired center/winger Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Ryan Poehling, the 45th overall pick of the 2025 Draft (Eric Nilson), and a 2026 fourth-round selection. Thus far, at least, the Zegras trade is the most notable roster addition the Flyers have made. Additionally, the Flyers signed center Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal, defensemen Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert to respective one-year contracts, and goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year deal.
Flyers have minimal cap space remaining in 2025-26
Barring an unexpected trade before opening night, the Flyers are probably done for the 2025 offseason. Per CapWages, the Flyers have just $227,739 of cap space remaining below the ceiling. However, this does not account for potential long-term injured reserve cap allowance, if needed. Ryan Ellis still has two seasons remaining on his $6.25 million average annual value (AAV) contract. Nevertheless, the Flyers would strongly prefer not to have to dip into LTIR if need be.
The Flyers ranked 24th in The Athletic’s recent NHL salary cap efficiency rankings. The organization did not take on any new long-term commitments via free agency or trade this summer. However, there are numerous players on the current roster who have four or more years of term on their contracts. Moreover, the team has to plan long-term for Matvei Michkov’s next contract (2025-26 is year two of three on his entry-level deal). Zegras, Jamie Drysdale. Samuel Ersson and Bobby Brink are restricted free agent.
Zegras: Center or Wing?
Zegras (6-foot-0, 185 pounds) has split time between center and wing during his NHL career. While it will be up to new head coach Rick Tocchet to determine where and with whom Zegras plays, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere ideally hopes Zegras can play in the middle.
“We’re hoping he can help in the center position because that’s obviously an area we could improve. At the same time, if Rick decides he’s better suited on the wing and there’s other guys who play better in the middle, [Tocchet] is going to decide,” Briere said on June 24.
Tocchet later said he will try Zegras out first in the middle. Tocchet’s systems (defensive zone, breakouts, and offensive/neutral zone forechecking) place extensive resposibilities on the center if they are to function properly. It’s a must for Zegras to continue to expand his 200-foot game while also recovering the offensive prowess he showed before down years in 2023-24 and 2024-25. That’s the risk factor in a nutshell. Zegras also has to improve in the faceoff circle or move over to wing for draws before going back over the middle.
Zegras is primarily known as an offense-oriented player. He and hard-nosed former Anaheim coach Greg Cronin had their share of ups and downs in their working relationship. However, the two eventually came to reach a middle ground on paying attention to 200-foot detail while allowing enough leeway to create offensive plays.
“He’s been terrific this year,” Cronin told The Hockey News. “If you were to ask me one player that’s probably made the most progress even though his stats don’t reflect it, it’s him.”
Zegras needs a healthy season
This past season, Zegras underwent surgery to repair a torn knee meniscus sustained in a December 4 match against the Vegas Golden Knights. He missed 24 games. Meanwhile, the Ducks went 8-13-3. Upon his return, Zegras remained in the lineup the rest of the year. He missed three games in March due an NHL suspension stemming from a check to the head on Detroit’s Michael Ramussen.
The Flyers are counting heavily on a healthy season from Zegras in 2025-26.
RFA next summer
Zegras is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent next summer. He will enter the 2025-26 season in the final year of a three-season, $5.75 million average annual value (AAV) bridge deal signed with Anaheim in 2023.
Consequently, the 2025-26 season is very much a “prove it” year for Zegras. Contract drives often bring out the best in a player. Nevertheless, the Flyers must make a decision by next summer if this is a player to whom they want to devote a long-term contractual commitment.
The potential reward: Zegras and his offensive upside
When he’s on top of his game, Zegras makes some highlight reel plays with the puck. Potentially, his arrival could be a desperately needed shot in the arm for the Flyers’ long-suffering power play.
It’s not hard to find Zegras in “Plays of the Week” clips. He regularly pulls off dazzling goals, dangles, and setups. In particular, his over-the-net, alley-oop setup to Sonny Milao in December 2021 still the makes rounds on all-time spectacular plays. From behind the net, Zegras deliberately telegraphed a fake “Michigan” (lacrosse-style) shot attempt and then quickly flipped the puck over the top of the net. Milano then legally batted the puck into the net.
By age 21, Zegras was already an NHL impact player offensively. Despite the injuries and reduced production of the last two seasons, the Flyers are banking on a return to offensive form from the still-young player. Apart from health, the Flyers want to see Zegras and Tocchet forge a strong coach-player relationship. Zegras’ previous head coach, Cronin, generally liked what he saw from Zegras this past season.
Now the task will be to see the offensive numbers rebound while maintaining his improvements without the puck.It’s a big ask. It’s also desperately needed if the Flyers are are return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.
Thank You Bill