After lacking the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, the Philadelphia Flyers made a change behind the bench by hiring Rick Tocchet, most not too long ago of the Vancouver Canucks. Simply days earlier than the 2025 NHL Draft, the Flyers are including ahead Trevor Zegras in a commerce with the Anaheim Geese.
The Flyers are sending ahead Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round decide (No. 45) and a 2026 fourth-round decide to the Geese as a part of the deal.
Zegras recorded 67 targets and 119 assists in 5 seasons with the Geese. His greatest season got here in 2022-23, when he tallied a career-high 65 factors (23 targets and 42 assists) in 81 video games. The flashy ahead has been restricted to simply 88 video games over the previous two seasons resulting from damage, nevertheless. Zegras is coming off of a season during which he registered 32 factors (12 targets & 20 assists) in 57 video games for the Geese.
The Geese, struggling in their very own method, have missed the postseason in seven consecutive years. The staff additionally acquired veteran ahead Chris Kreider from the New York Rangers earlier this month, and it does have an abundance of depth with regards to forwards.
Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at what every staff is buying within the commerce and the way Zegras suits in together with his new franchise.
The commerce
Flyers obtain
Geese obtain
- Ryan Poehling (C)
- 2025 second-round decide
- 2025 fourth-round decide
Grades
Philadelphia Flyers
Since final making the playoffs within the COVID-19-shortened season, the Flyers have been going via the motions. The earlier regime has been relieved of their duties in current seasons with former basic supervisor Chuck Fletcher and coach John Tortorella being proven the door. They have been changed with Danny Briere at basic supervisor and Tocchet as coach.
Whereas the Flyers have been unable to qualify for the postseason in 2024-25, Briere continued to set the group up for achievement by accumulating plenty of belongings, together with 10 picks on this week’s draft.
Zegras was as soon as considered as a franchise cornerstone for the Geese, however the staff has seen a number of forwards flourish, together with Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier. Satirically, Gauthier was acquired from the Flyers final season in a deal that despatched defenseman Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia. Gauthier made it clear that he did not intend to signal with the Flyers after the staff chosen him with the No. 5 decide within the 2022 NHL Draft.
Zegras was named to the NHL All-Rookie Staff in 2022 and had back-to-back seasons (2021-22, 2022-23) of no less than 60 factors. Throughout the 2022-23 season, Zegras led the Geese in factors (65), targets (23), game-winning-goals (3), and time beyond regulation targets.
Whereas selecting up Zegras could also be a tad dangerous, it was a threat that the Flyers might afford to take contemplating their surplus of draft picks. In spite of everything, Zegras will make $5.75 million in 2025-26 then will change into a restricted free agent subsequent summer time. Philadelphia could have a chance to see simply how Zegras suits into their prime six earlier than committing to him for the lengthy haul.
Accidents have restricted Zegras’ talents to remain on the ice the previous two seasons, however he’s nonetheless a proficient ahead who doubtless hasn’t reached his full potential simply but. Even when it finally ends up being a transfer that does not work out, it is definitely worth the swing by Briere contemplating {that a} second-round decide was the most important asset strolling out the door. Grade: B
Anaheim Geese
The Geese have obtained a surplus of proficient forwards, which doubtless is the principle purpose that Zegras was dealt. The market actually wasn’t as sizzling because it as soon as was given the return that Anaheim was in a position to receive. Regardless, the Geese get off of Zegras’ contract for subsequent season.
In Poehling, the Geese get a bottom-six ahead that would heart the staff’s fourth line. Poehling is also extraordinarily versatile as a result of he can line up on the wing if needed. Whereas not a finesse participant, he is a bodily ahead that is not afraid to mark his territory down low and rating these gritty targets. In spite of everything, Poehling did rating 12 targets and dish out 19 assists in 2024-25 with the Flyers.
The 2025 second-round decide is certainly a sexy acquisition provided that will probably be among the many prime 50 picks on this weekend’s draft. Anaheim basic supervisor Pat Verbeek did a stable job to land a second-round decide for a staff that can be seeking to lastly return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs subsequent 12 months. Merely put, there is not any such factor as having too many draft picks since these may even be offloaded down the highway for potential expertise.
It is not a sensational return for Zegras, who was as soon as in Anaheim’s imaginative and prescient of the long run, but it surely permits Leo Carlsson to heart the staff’s prime line — a spot as soon as occupied by Zegras. This was a scenario during which Zegras and the Geese doubtless wanted a clear break contemplating the commerce talks over the previous few seasons. Grade: C+
