Rick Tocchet: Flyers Are ‘Idiots’ If They Don’t Try Zegras / Michkov Pairing

Rick Tocchet: Flyers Are ‘Idiots’ If They Don’t Try Zegras / Michkov Pairing

We have a bit more clarity on how the Flyers are going to use Trevor Zegras since I wrote the fantasy hockey post in the aftermath of the trade. New head coach Rick Tocchet essentially confirmed that Zegras will be used at center and will be deployed on the same line as Matvei Michkov.

“We’d be idiots not to explore it and talk about it, and try to manifest it where it can work,” Tocchet told The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz. “Can it work? I don’t know.”

“I definitely think it’s our obligation to see if he can play center,” Tocchet said. “He really wants to give it a shot. … He’s talented making a play off his forehand or backhand, and those guys are hard to find.

“He shared a couple things with me that he was pretty honest about, where he had struggles in boxing out guys down low, and things that he wanted to work on. I thought that was really mature from him. So there’s some things that I can really help him (with) in being a center. We’ll see how it goes. But, yeah, I’d like to definitely give him a shot up the middle.”

Trevor Zegras Trade Grades: Rising Star Lands In Philly

Tocchet is probably right. That duo has a chance to be electric if both reach their potential. I’m just not sure Zegras defends well enough to actually be a top-end center. It makes all the sense in the world to give it a shot, though, considering the Flyers have nothing at center beyond Sean Couturier and Noah Cates. Time will tell if Zegras can actually become the top end center Philly has been craving.

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