Latest news with #TrevorZegras
New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Flyers may or may not be better next season, but they should at least be more interesting
Travis Konecny is cognizant of the plan. Prior to the Philadelphia Flyers' moderately eventful 2025 offseason, the team's best player for the past few years acknowledged that this thing is still a work in progress. In Konecny's final media conference on the day he cleaned out his locker for the summer on April 18, the winger was asked how far he believes the team is from a postseason berth. And while Konecny was hopeful then that 'they're not that far from playoffs … depending on what happens this summer,' he also knows that the 2025-26 season will still be considered a transitional one for the organization that he's committed to for eight more seasons. Advertisement 'I would say, being a consistent contender … two years (away)?' Konecny continued. 'We've still got a young team; we've still got guys developing. But I think all of the pieces we have right now, we're capable of getting in, for sure.' We'll see about that, because there remains a pretty decent chance that the Flyers still won't be all that dangerous next season. This is, after all, a club that finished with the fourth-worst record in the league in 2024-25. Even after the offseason additions of Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar, gigantic question marks remain about the goaltending, the forward depth, the skill on the back end and whether key young players are going to develop the way that everyone in the organization hopes they will. But something that does seem certain, as the current hockey operations regime enters its third season? The Flyers — as long as the bottom doesn't drop out — are about to become much more interesting. Consider: There is a solid group of young players on the NHL roster who are at the right age to take off. Tyson Foerster, as long as he doesn't miss too much time to start the season as he deals with an offseason arm infection, looks like a future 30-goal scorer and maybe an elite defender, too. Owen Tippett, even with his step backward last season, still has the tools to score 30-40 goals himself. There's reason to believe Cam York could get back on track under new coach Rick Tocchet, if he can move on from how things ended last season with John Tortorella. Jamie Drysdale had a solid second half of last season, and at just 23 years old, could still reach his full potential as a defensive rover. And then there are the two guys who could become legitimate stars: Zegras, still just 24 years old, and, of course, 20-year-old Matvei Michkov. Both are going to be extra motivated heading into 2025-26, for different reasons: Zegras, to prove the hype around him from earlier in his career when he burst onto the scene was warranted, and Michkov because, well, that just seems to be who he is. Advertisement Seeing which guys are able to progress and reach their respective ceilings — and which aren't — is going to be compelling, either way. This season will be key in that regard for a whole bunch of them. Other youngsters are arriving, too. Porter Martone heading to Michigan State in the fall removes one potential training camp news item, but there are enough other youngsters turning pro that there should be some intriguing battles for roster spots. Alex Bump's performance at development camp only increased the excitement about what the 21-year-old winger can do. At this rate, it would be more surprising if Bump starts the season in Lehigh Valley, particularly if Foerster is unavailable. Jett Luchanko, who still doesn't turn 19 until next month, could also make a play for a spot depending on how much he's progressed and how the center position shakes out in camp. Late 2024-25 adds such as Nikita Grebenkin and Karsen Dorwart, and prospects already here such as Hunter McDonald, Helge Grans and Emil Andrae will come to camp with their eyes on a roster spot, too. Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey, who starred for OHL London for the past two seasons, will likely begin with the Phantoms but could still conceivably make their NHL debuts at some point this season. Regardless of who makes the team out of camp, though, which players earn recalls throughout the season will be worth monitoring. Is there a young player or two that could arrive sooner than expected, while pushing a veteran out? That will be much more likely to happen this season than it has in the past few. They aren't planning on being strictly sellers anymore. I touched on this in my recent mailbag, but it's worth repeating. If all goes to plan this season and the Flyers are at least hovering around a playoff spot, they're not going to be actively looking to trade key players off of their NHL roster to the detriment of the group. Advertisement That doesn't mean they won't make any trades, of course. But they won't look like deadline deals of the past two seasons, when the Flyers traded Sean Walker, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee and Scott Laughton — all of whom were contributing, to varying degrees — solely for future assets/cap space. I think it's evident that Briere feels he owes it to the current group of veterans, who have endured two years of frustration while losing some of their good friends, a shot at qualifying for the postseason. It will be up to them to show him whether they can do it or not. If they hang around the playoff line, he'll almost certainly let them make an honest push. Yes, there is reason to believe they could be more competitive in 2025-26. One argument I've always hated goes something like this: 'If the Flyers had a better power play and better goaltending, they'd be in the playoffs.' Well, yeah, sure. But you can go through just about every non-playoff team in the league and make a similar argument by identifying their various weaknesses. At the same time … The Flyers' goaltending and power-play numbers have been SO bad; they really have nowhere to go but up. Vladar, while probably not a future All-Star, plays levels above both Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov, two goalies who had no business even being in the league last season. And there is reason to believe that if Vladar is able to give the club just average goaltending, that will give a boost to Samuel Ersson, too. As for the power play, Tocchet has shown he knows how to coach an effective one, unlike the previous staff. He's going to be much more patient with his young roster than Tortorella or Rocky Thompson showed to be, which should help. Further, the power play should already be better with Zegras and a more experienced Michkov on the top unit, too. Advertisement Remember, too, the Flyers were not a complete disaster at five-on-five last season, despite their poor record, if you believe the underlying stats. Far from it. Moneypuck had them eighth in the league with a 52.86 expected goals percentage, while Natural Stat Trick had them ninth (52.05 percent). If they do meaningfully improve the goaltending and the power play, perhaps the Flyers end up as one of the league's more pleasant surprises next season. But even if they ultimately miss — still the likeliest scenario, despite Konecny's optimism — there should be no lack of intriguing storylines when camp begins in September, and in the months that follow. (Photo of Matvei Michkov, Tyson Foerster and Travis Konecny: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras & the Makings of the Flyers' New Dream Line
(Header/feature image courtesy of Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News) It started with a joke—Matvei Michkov grinning as he joked that maybe, just maybe, Trevor Zegras could finally teach him how to pull off a Michigan goal. It's the kind of lighthearted comment you'd expect from a 20-year-old hockey prodigy that's in on the joke and knows how to poke a little fun at himself. But behind the smile, there's an intriguing possibility that suddenly doesn't feel far-fetched: What if Michkov and Zegras actually do end up playing on a line together? What if the Philadelphia Flyers, in the process of reshaping their roster and identity, decide to lean into fun—into unpredictability, flair, chaos, and brilliance? What if they put two of the NHL's most creative young forwards on the same line and just… let them cook? It wouldn't just be entertaining. It could be electric. It could be dangerous. And it might just be one of the boldest, most watchable line combinations in the NHL. Two Artists, One Canvas Let's start with the obvious: Michkov and Zegras are wired differently. They're not 'system guys.' They don't thrive by simply getting pucks deep or playing a conservative north-south game. These are players who see the game on a different plane—Michkov with his dazzling edge work, his feather-touch deception, his ability to turn nothing into something in a flash; Zegras with his swagger, his wizardry behind the net, and his knack for trying (and often completing) the impossible. But here's the thing: for all their highlight-reel potential, both Michkov and Zegras have also faced the same struggle—being brilliant players often stuck without the right linemates to truly unlock their game. Zegras was frequently shuffled through underwhelming combinations in Anaheim, asked to carry offensive loads without much help, sometimes even being moved to the wing despite clearly being most dangerous as a puck-dominant center. Michkov, in his rookie season with the Flyers, flashed undeniable star power but spent long stretches trying to create magic from a vacuum, turning defensive zone exits into breakaway chances out of necessity rather than systemized support. But together? They might finally have the partner-in-crime they've both been waiting for. Creative Chaos—and the Beauty of It Stylistically, this duo makes sense because they both embrace controlled chaos. They aren't reckless, but they're relentless. They push defenders back with speed and vision. They manipulate lanes and create space where none exists. They play fast—but not in a straight line. They're the kinds of players who can break down even the most disciplined defensive structures simply by being themselves. And while neither fits the mold of a traditional 'rat' like Brad Marchand or even Travis Konecny (who bristles at the term, but let's be honest, fits the role), they do get under opponents' skin. Not always by chirping, but by knowing exactly what they can do and knowing how well they can do it. By taunting defenders with puck control. By embarrassing people on the rush. By skating with that infuriating mix of arrogance and joy that screams, "I dare you to try and stop me." Good luck to any defense pairing who has to read and react to two players pulling Michigan threats, behind-the-back drop passes, and spin-cycle give-and-gos in the same shift. Opposing coaches might consider calling a timeout just to mentally recover. The Missing Piece: Who Completes the Line? Of course, every great duo needs a third. To make the Michkov-Zegras pairing truly sing, the Flyers will need the right complementary winger—someone who can balance the creativity with responsibility, who can hunt pucks and extend possessions, who can play the straight man to the chaos. There are a few candidates on the roster already. Konecny would be a fascinating addition—equal parts scorer and disturber, capable of both anchoring and accelerating the line's tempo. Tyson Foerster, assuming good health, brings a heavy shot and sound two-way play (although breaking up Foerster's line with Noah Cates and Bobby Brink would be a hard sell to the coaching staff). Owen Tippett offers speed and tenacity, with finishing touch in transition, but an inconsistent 2024-25 season might not put him at the top of the candidate list. But the truth is, if the Flyers do build a line around Michkov and Zegras, they'll need to accept that traditional definitions won't apply. It won't be a "first line" or a "second line." It'll be a 'brace-yourself-every-time-they-touch-the-puck' line. Why It Works for the Flyers' Future There's also a broader implication here. For years, the Flyers have leaned on identity as their calling card. Grit, responsibility, accountability. That doesn't go away—especially not under Rick Tocchet, who will demand structure and commitment. But the next version of the Flyers also has to find a way to evolve. This rebuild isn't just about collecting assets. It's about creating an identity worth watching. One that excites. One that forces other teams to prepare differently. One that fills the building, gets the fans talking, and makes highlight reels every night—and Michkov and Zegras are just the men for the job. They'll obviously need to earn trust. They'll need to buy into systems. And, at the end of the day, they'll need to produce. But that doesn't mean stifling their instincts. The Flyers should lean into what makes them special—because how often do you get two players this magnetic, this creative, this fearless, at the same time? It could be beautiful. It could be infuriating. But above all, it could be fun. And after years of grinding, clawing, and rebuilding, fun might just be the spark this franchise—and this fanbase—has been waiting for. So go ahead, Trevor. Show Matvei how to score a Michigan in the NHL. And then score five more together—just because you can.
New York Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Submit your Philadelphia Flyers questions for Kevin Kurz's mailbag
The Flyers have (likely) made their most significant moves of the offseason, acquiring Trevor Zegras and making other signings. What do you want to know about where they stand? Submit your questions here, and beat writer Kevin Kurz will answer as many as possible in an upcoming Flyers mailbag.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Who is Trevor Zegras? NHL playmaker joins Philadelphia Flyers in game-changing trade
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to acquire forward Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks. (Credit: Getty Images) In a highly anticipated move, the Flyers acquired 24-year-old Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks, and the trade package included forward Ryan Poehling. A 2025 second-round pick, reflecting the Flyers' belief in Zegras' potential despite a relatively modest cost. Zegras was drafted ninth overall by Anaheim in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has become one of the league's most entertaining offensive forwards, he was also named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2022. 6/27 Media Availability: Trevor Zegras From Boston to the big leagues, Trevor Zegras' rise in hockey Born on March 20, 2001, in Bedford, New York, Trevor Zegras quickly emerged as a standout hockey talent; he developed through the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP). Before committing to Boston University, where he posted 36 points in 33 games during the 2019–20 NCAA season. Zegras transitioned to professional hockey with ease, starting with the AHL's San Diego Gulls in 2020–21, after just 17 games in the minors, he was promoted to the Anaheim Ducks. He made his NHL debut on February 5, 2021, against the Arizona Coyotes. By the 2021–22 season, Zegras had cemented his place in the league with 61 points in 75 games. This followed by 65 points in 81 games the next year, known for his elite puck handling and highlight-reel passes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Took 1 Teaspoon Before Bed – Her Belly Was Gone in a Week Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo Zegras quickly became a fan favorite and even landed the EA Sports NHL 23 cover in 2023. Trevor Zegras Being A Magician For 8 Minutes Trevor Zegras' international success and personal spotlight Zegras has proudly represented Team USA multiple times. His most notable international achievement came at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped lead the U.S. to gold. He finished the tournament with 18 points in 7 games and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Off the ice, Zegras has built a reputation as a charismatic figure in the hockey community, with a marketable persona, And features like the EA Sports NHL 23 cover, he's become a face of the league's next generation, his social media presence, especially on Instagram, has drawn a large, loyal following. A new beginning for Trevor Zegras in Philadelphia Now joining the Flyers under head coach Rick Tocchet, Zegras is expected to fill a top-six role and inject energy into the team's offense. With the Flyers looking to rebuild around young talent, Zegras' arrival could mark the beginning of a new era in Philadelphia hockey. At just 24, Trevor Zegras has already accomplished more than many NHL players dream of, and he's only getting started. Also Read: Former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky destroys drunk man in wild viral golf course brawl For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Philadelphia Flyers acquire Trevor Zegras: Grading trade with Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras, who has been the subject for trade rumors for several seasons, was finally moved on June 23 in a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Ducks get center Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder for Zegras, who had been drafted by Anaheim ninth overall in 2019. He was a runner-up for rookie of the year in 2021-22 when he scored 61 points in 75 games. He followed that up with 65 points in 2022-23 but has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, leading to the trade rumors. Advertisement Grading the trade between the Anaheim Ducks and the Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia Flyers: B+ There's high upside here, assuming Zegras can stay healthy. He's 24 and will be a restricted free agent after next season. He's highly creative with several lacrosse-style "Michigan" goals and a lacrosse-style assist. His new teammate, Matvei Michkov, has tried the move unsuccessfully several times. Before the injuries, Zegras had two 23-goal seasons, and the Flyers had only four 20-goal scorers last season and ranked 24th in offense. He also should help the Flyers' 30th-ranked power play. New Flyers coach Rick Tocchet can fine-tune Zegras' overall game. Anaheim Ducks: B- Zegras was available because the Ducks had traded earlier for Chris Kreider. The return for Zegras was just OK, considering he wasn't in their long-term plans. Poehling kills penalties and won more than 50 percent of his faceoffs last season. The Ducks were 29th in penalty killing and were last in faceoff winning percentage in 2024-25. The move also clears up $3.85 million in cap space as general manager Pat Verbeek plans to be aggressive this offseason to try to get the team back to the playoffs. The Ducks also could use the extra space toward re-signing key restricted free agents: Mason McTavish this summer and Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier in 2026. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trevor Zegras trade grades: Who won Flyers, Ducks NHL deal?
