Trevor Zegras, the dynamic 24-year-old center, was acquired by the Flyers from the Anaheim Ducks in an offseason trade on June 23, 2025, in exchange for forward Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
The move reunited Zegras with his close friend and former Ducks teammate Jamie Drysdale (who had been traded to Philly earlier in 2024) and added elite playmaking talent to a Flyers roster looking to inject skill into its rebuild. Since donning the orange and black, Zegras has lived up to the hype, emerging as one of the team’s most impactful forwards early in the 2025-26 NHL season.
Zegras has been on fire to start the year, showcasing the creativity and scoring touch that made him a ninth overall pick in 2019. As of November 17, 2025, he’s racked up 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) in 18 games, pacing the Flyers in scoring and helping them sit at a respectable 9-6-3 record. His advanced metrics are equally impressive: among NHL forwards with at least 200 minutes of 5-on-5 play, Zegras ranks in the top 60 for expected goals-for percentage (55.09%), rubbing shoulders with stars like Jack Hughes and Clayton Keller.
His standout game came on November 14th against the St. Louis Blues, where he exploded for two goals and an assist in regulation before sealing a thrilling 6-5 shootout victory with the game’s only goal in the tiebreaker. Teammate Owen Tippett called it a “game-changer,” as Zegras’ slot goal in the first period tied things at 1-1, and his second tally in the dying minutes of the second period knotted it at 3-3. Samuel Ersson’s 12 saves (plus two more in the shootout) backed up the offensive fireworks from Zegras, Christian Dvorak (also two goals and an assist), and Tippett (one goal, three assists).
This win extended Philly’s point streak to 3-0-2 and marked their sixth win in the last 10 games. However, the Flyers stumbled in their next matchup on November 16—a 5-1 blowout loss to the Dallas Stars on the second night of a back-to-back. Even in defeat, Zegras shined with his elite passing vision, consistently threading needles to open teammates you wouldn’t expect. It felt like he was finding seams against Dallas, “once every other shift.”
Impact on the Team and Future Outlook
Zegras has been a catalyst for Philly’s improved power play, which has climbed from previous seasons’ woes thanks to his one-timer setups and zone entries. He’s already notched his third three-point game of the year (all featuring two goals and an assist), a rarity that underscores his offensive dominance. Off the ice, the “dad’s trip” over the November 14-16 weekend—where players’ fathers joined the team—added a feel-good layer, with Zegras’ dad hyping him up pre-game.
Looking ahead, Zegras enters the 2026 Winter Olympics conversation for Team USA, bolstered by his hot start and stylistic fit alongside players like Jack Hughes. Flyers General Manager Danny Briere faces a key decision on his contract:
Zegras is a Restricted Free Agent after this season, and insiders like Elliotte Friedman are buzzing about extension talks. Fans and analysts alike are urging a quick deal, and the longer he sits without a new contract for next season and beyond, the more the price goes up.
At his current clip, Zegras is proving indispensable to a squad still gelling under coach Rick Tocchet. The Flyers’ next games (vs. St. Louis on November 20 and New Jersey on November 22) will test if Zegras can sustain this momentum amid a lighter schedule. For now, he’s the heartbeat of a team that’s fun to watch again
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