Diving into the Low Value Return in Trevor Zegras Trade
Early Monday morning, Pat Verbeek finalized a deal sending Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia, reuniting him with close friend Jamie Drysdale.
The move left the Anaheim Ducks community in shock, with widespread feelings of disappointment and frustration. Fans, team staff, and even much of the Ducks roster voiced their sadness online.
@ThePondPress
On Instagram, all the major Ducks media coverage pages collabed together to show their disappointment, and it gained lots of traction within the Anaheim Ducks community.
Many are reacting strongly because of what Zegras represented to the organization. He was not only a fan favorite but widely regarded as an important figure in the locker room.
On the ice, Zegras was drafted 9th overall in 2019 and is considered one of the top talents from that draft class. In most redrafts, he is projected to be selected higher than ninth. He currently ranks 5th in total points among all 2019 draftees, with back-to-back 60-point seasons in his first two NHL campaigns. His recent production was impacted by injuries and coaching changes under Greg Cronin, but his skill and puck handling remain highly rated.
The return for Zegras consists of Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick (45th overall), and a 2026 fourth-round pick. No first-round pick or top prospect was included.
Let’s look at some forwards that were dealt at the trade deadline, just for some perspective on recent trade values. Andrei Kuzmenko, with 157 points in 219 NHL games, was traded along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a third-round pick. Brad Marchand was traded for a conditional second-round pick. Luke Kunin, a depth center with comparable production to Poehling, was traded for a fourth-round pick.
Zegras is expected to play under Joel Quenneville, the NHL’s second-winningest coach in history. How this trade impacts both teams will be clearer over time. Philadelphia adds Zegras after previously trading Cutter Gauthier for Jamie Drysdale.
