After a rocky couple of seasons in Anaheim plagued by injuries and positional mismatches, Trevor Zegras has absolutely exploded since his trade to the Flyers back in June 2025. It’s like the City of Brotherly Love flipped a switch for the 24-year-old center, turning him from a frustrated trade-rumor staple into the high-flying playmaker we all knew he could be. Let’s break it down with the latest as of October 31, 2025.
The Trade That Started It All
On June 23, 2025—just days before the NHL Draft—the Ducks shipped Zegras to Philly in exchange for forward Ryan Poehling, the Flyers’ 2025 second-round pick (No. 45 overall), and a 2026 fourth-rounder. nhl.com +1 Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek cited a logjam at center (with guys like Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish thriving) and Zegras’ preference for the middle as key factors, noting it didn’t suit his “creative” style on the wing.
For the Flyers, it was a low-risk, high-reward bet: Zegras entered the final year of his $5.75M contract as a restricted free agent in 2026, bringing elite skill to a lineup desperate for offense (Philly ranked 24th in goals per game last season). Zegras himself called it a “fresh start,” reuniting him with old Ducks teammate Jamie Drysdale (traded to Philly in 2024) and giving him a shot at full-time center duties under new coach Rick Tocchet.
Analysts graded it an A for Philly—cheap upside without gutting the prospect pool—and a C- for Anaheim, who cashed in on a “low-value” moment but lost a 60-point scorer from his 2022-23 peak.
Revival: From Slump to Streak
Zegras is on fire. Through the Flyers’ first 10 games (they’re sitting at 6-3-1, good for third in the Metro), he’s leading the team with 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in just nine games played—good for a blistering 1.33 points per game. That’s a massive bounce-back from his injury-shortened 2024-25 in Anaheim (32 points in 57 games, sidelined by a torn meniscus).
Key highlights:
- 5-game point streak (as of late October), including multi-point outbursts against rivals like the New York Islanders.
- A viral no-look alley-oop pass that got him compared to “nasty” wizardry, setting up a goal while getting flattened—pure Zegras flair.
- Boosting Philly’s Power Play (already up 15 spots league-wide) with his vision and shot, addressing their 30th-ranked unit from last year.
Tocchet’s approach? Simple: “Let him enjoy hockey again.”
Though there was early drama—he started at Center but got bumped to wing after three games to accommodate Matvei Michkov’s debut—the flexibility seems to suit him. Zegras has chemistry brewing with Michkov and Drysdale, creating “scary” top-six potential.
The Philly Vibe
Zegras is glowing about the move, “My teammates make it a fun place to come to work every day, and the fans are unbelievable. They bring so much good energy. So it’s awesome,” he told reporters on October 29. Fans have embraced him as the spark the Flyers needed post-rebuild, with social media buzzing about how Anaheim “drained his whimsy” and Philly’s “land of friendship” brought it back.
It’s a narrative shift: from “worry about that friend” vibes to “VIVA PHILADELPHIA!” chants. If this holds (and staying healthy is key), Zegras could hit 70+ points and lock in as Philly’s top-line pivot. The Flyers’ early success—fueled by this trio of skill—has them playoff-bound for the first time since 2020. Hockey’s better when Zegras is cooking. What do you think—trade steal of the summer, or just the honeymoon phase?
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