Top Trades and Landing Spots for Ducks Forward Trevor Zegras Amid NHL Trade Rumors

Entering this season, center Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale were considered to be key components in the Anaheim Ducks' rebuilding plans. With Drysdale getting shipped to the Philadelphia Flyers last week for prospect winger Cutter Gauthier, there's speculation that the 22-year-old Zegras could also become a trade candidate.

Zegras was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22 with a 61-point performance. A flashy offensive forward who garnered attention for his lacrosse-style "Michigan" goals, he earned an appearance in the 2022 NHL All-Star Game participating in the Breakaway Challenge. He followed up with a team-leading 65 points last season.

Things haven't gone smoothly for Zegras in 2023-24. He missed training camp to his prolonged contract negotiations before agreeing to a three-year deal worth an average annual value of $5.8 million. He missed 20 games with a lower-body injury and is currently out six-to-eight weeks with a broken ankle, limiting him to just seven points in 20 games.

Before Zegras' latest injury, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli wondered if the young center would follow Drysdale out of Anaheim. Zegras' name had reportedly come up in general manager Pat Verbeek's conversations with other clubs, though Seravalli wasn't sure how far those discussions had gone.

Seravalli cited the Ducks' depth in promising young forwards such as Gauthier, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish. He also noted that Zegras wasn't playing the style of game that Verbeek wanted his club to play. The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek observed that he's prone to bad penalties and undisciplined defensive play.

TSN's Darren Dreger subsequently reported the Ducks weren't shopping Zegras and were working with him before his injury on improving his game. Nevertheless, he felt this was a situation worth monitoring and could come to a head in the offseason.

Should Verbeek decide to peddle Zegras, here's a look at the five teams we believe could be the top landing spots and what it could cost to acquire him.

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Chicago hit the jackpot in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, winning the No. 1 overall pick and using it to select potential generational talent, Connor Bedard. However, this rebuilding club needs other good young players who can support their 18-year-old wunderkind.

They possess some promising talent on their roster and within their pipeline in Lukas Reichel, Kevin Korchinski, Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore. Given their current position in the standings, they're going to get another high draft pick this year—perhaps they'll even win the lottery again.

However, Chicago lacks an established young star who can help Bedard navigate the burden of early stardom as well as provide some much-needed scoring depth for this low-scoring club. Trevor Zegras could be a solid fit either on Bedard's wing or centering their second line.

The Ducks could prefer a young player like Reichel or Korchinski or a prospect like Nazar as part of the return for Zegras. Chicago also possesses an extra first-round pick in 2024 and 2025 along with three second-rounders in this year's draft that they could dangle as trade bait.

The Columbus Blue Jackets haven't had an electrifying scoring star since Rick Nash departed in 2012. Since 2021, they've added Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau, but neither forward has performed to the level of their previous heights with their former clubs.

Trevor Zegras could be the missing ingredient that helps Laine and Gaudreau regain their scoring touch. He could also provide the Blue Jackets with that exciting offensive presence they've been lacking for over a decade.

Zegras is also the right age to skate with promising young Blue Jackets forwards such as Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson and Yegor Chinakhov. Putting him on a line with two of those youngsters could give the Jackets a solid second line that takes the pressure off Gaudreau and Laine.

The Jackets are poised to land a high draft pick in 2024. Given their depth in good young talent, they might be willing to part with that pick along with a prospect for Zegras. They could also offer up a deal centered around a young forward like Sillinger or Johnson.

Under general manager Kent Hughes, the Montreal Canadiens have been rebuilding their roster since late in the 2021-22 season. While the focus has been on drafting and developing young players, Hughes has shown a willingness to acquire talent. His notable acquisitions include center Kirby Dach, forward Sean Monahan and defenseman Mike Matheson.

Hughes has yet to swing a major deal for a star, especially one who could help bolster the Canadiens' offense. Their production drops significantly beyond leading scorers like Nick Suzuki, Matheson, Cole Caufield and Monahan, which is why they're near the bottom of the league in scoring this season.

Trevor Zegras could be a good fit. He's young with an affordable contract and plenty of offensive skills to take some of the load off of young scorers like Suzuki and Caufield. His undisciplined defensive play is an issue but one that could be worked out under a players' coach like the Habs' Martin St. Louis.

The Canadiens have an extra pick in each of the first four rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft that they could use as trade chips. They're also loaded with promising young defensemen such as Arber Xhakej, Justin Barron, Jordan Harris, Logan Mailloux, and Mattias Norlinder that they can draw upon to put together a trade package.

On Jan. 12, The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek examined how Trevor Zegras went from becoming a Ducks cornerstone player to a possible trade candidate. He felt that the charismatic, show-stopping scorer could have value "in any slumping market that needs a box-office attraction," going on to suggest the San Jose Sharks.

Mired at the bottom of the NHL standings and enduring one of their worst seasons in franchise history, the Sharks are attempting to rebuild their roster under general manager Mike Grier. They have only two stars in Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture, with the latter now 34 and battling injuries.

The Sharks possess promising young talent with William Eklund, Shakir Mukhamadullin, William Smith, and Quentin Musty on their roster or within their prospect pipeline. None, however, have yet reached the same level as Zegras, whose offensive stylings would not only help them score more goals but could help draw back some fans in San Jose.

While the Ducks might be reluctant to send Zegras to a close rival, they might be tempted if Grier made a quality offer. They could package the 2024 first-rounder they received from the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year's Erik Karlsson trade or the second-rounder they received last year from the New Jersey Devils along with one of their prospects.

Not long ago, the Washington Capitals were among the top teams in the league powered by an offense led by Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Bäckström, Evgeni Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie. Today, they're among the lowest-scoring clubs. Ovechkin and Oshie are aging, Bäckström may never play again and Kuznetsov is in decline.

Ovechkin has two years left on his contract, while Bäckström, Oshie and Kuznetsov have one each. It's time for the Capitals to start transitioning toward a new core of younger talent. They have some promising youngsters such as Hendrix Lapierre, Connor McMichael, Ryan Leonard, Ivan Miroshnichenko and Aliaksei Protas on their roster and within their system.

None of them, however, are established young scorers with the upside of Zegras. He could center Ovechkin's line, providing a much-needed boost to the Washington captain's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record. The young center could also skate alongside those younger Capitals, giving the club a good second line.

Acquiring Zegras could cost Washington their 2024 first-round pick as part of the return along with one of their promising young players. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan could also draw on his three second-rounders in the 2025 draft.

Stats (as of Jan. 14, 2024) via NHL.com, salary info and line combinations via Cap Friendly and draft pick info via Puck Pedia.