Hockey in South Philadelphia is right around the corner. While some are excited and have been craving the Philadelphia Flyers on their television, others are ready for yet another disappointing season. Whichever side your own, it’s an exciting time to be a Philly sports fan. Having the choice of the Phillies, Eagles or Flyers on the screen, there’s nothing better, in my opinion.
Now, let’s get down to business. Trevor Zegras is a Philadelphia Flyer. The Flyers made a huge trade with the Anaheim Ducks back on June 23, 2025, that would send Zegras to Philly. In return, the Ducks would receive forward Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in 2026.
I, myself, am one excited fan to see what he brings to the team. Fans are already imagining him on a line with Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny. Man, would that be crazy! That has goals written all over it. With Rick Tocchet now the new head coach of the Flyers, we can only hope that he unlocks Zegras and Michkov’s potential.
What exactly does a player like Zegras bring to a team? Let’s beak down a few different aspects of his game that fans will now see in the “correct” orange and black.
Speed
Speed will always be a useful tool in the game of hockey. Having the ability to beat opponents to pucks and give your team a chance to set up in the offensive zone is a huge plus. Zegras is a player that has some elite speed for his young age of 24. While he’s been plagued with injuries and offensively inconsistent recently, he definitely got some elite speed and range when he’s healthy. Let me take you back to the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. According to NHL Edge, in the 2021-22 season, he finished with 239.67 miles in skating distance (94th percentile) and averaged 10.7 miles per 60 minutes (99th percentile). In the 2022-23 season, he finished with 246.90 miles (94th percentile), 212.57 miles while even-strength (97th percentile), and 33.98 miles while on the power play (90th percentile).
Having a player with this kind of speed and stamina, I think, should benefit the Flyers on both sides of the ice. While the Flyers already have players (Michkov, Owen Tippett) that have great speed, it never hurts to add in that aspect of the game.
Power-play enhancement
The power play has been a huge problem for the Flyers for years. Like I’ve said in the past, the power play could be a chance for a team to get on the board, tie the game, or even take a lead. With the number of power play opportunities the Flyers had in the 2024-25 season and the times they went scoreless, Zegras is definitely needed.
The Flyers finished with the third-worst power play last season (15.0%) and desperately need to improve if they want to make the playoffs. Zegras may come in handy in this aspect if he stays healthy. Early in his career, Zegras put up solid numbers on the power play. He would record 34 total power play points in his first two full seasons with the Ducks. This is where Tocchet and new power play coach Yogi Svejkovsky can get creative.
Could we see Michkov and Zegras on the same power play unit this upcoming season? Only time will tell.
Playmaking and Creativity
This, I believe, is the aspect that fans are the most excited about when it comes to adding Zegras. Not only does he have elite speed, but he also has a great set of hands. Have you heard of the “Michigan goal”? Well, if you haven’t, here’s a video of Zegras performing one.
This kind of skill is now with the Flyers. Pair this with the goals that Michkov can score, I think Flyers fans are in for a real treat this season talent wise. Don’t be surprised if we see some highlight-reel goals early on in the season. With an open lane for players like Konecny, Michkov or Zegras, the opponent will be in for a long night.
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