Trevor Zegras Is A Young Player Every Team In The NHL Would Love
Trevor Zegras, man. The more I watch him, the more I like him. Despite recently entering the NHL’s COVID protocols, the 20-year-old was having an electric start to the season. Zegras has been one of the key players behind a resurgent campaign for the Anaheim Ducks, which see them sitting in second place in the Pacific Division. Despite being a regular in the Stanley Cup Playoffs not too long ago, the Ducks have recently seen some lean years. Many had questions about their core as the likes of captain Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry began to age. The latter even departed Orange County. Despite winning the Stanley Cup in 2007 with the Ducks, Perry is now chasing another ring in Tampa Bay.
However, a brand new core is forming in Anaheim. There has been an influx of young talent like Zegras and Troy Terry. As well, it is combined with terrific veteran play from Getzlaf and Kevin Shattenkirk, making the Ducks an exciting team to watch in the NHL’s Wild Wild Western Conference. Even though the Ducks captain is considered Anaheim royalty, the star of the show is undoubtedly Trevor Zegras.
Not Really A Surprise
One could have easily predicted this type of trajectory for Zegras. The Bedford, New York native was a standout for the United States in the 2021 World Junior Championships. He scored 7 goals and added 11 assists for 18 points in 7 games en route to a gold medal. One of the highlights of his tournament was a famous interview before the Gold Medal game versus Canada. He called out the Canadians for not facing elite competition and being tested in 5 v 5 play. The confidence was apparent, as Zegras predicted Team USA would catch their arch-rivals, in particular the goalie, by surprise. He backed up his talk with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win. This combination of swagger and skill can do wonders in the NHL.
A Phenom On The Ice
As previously mentioned, Zegras is also a phenomenally skilled player. He can play on both the wing and down the middle. He sees the ice incredibly well. Looking at some highlights will show you this very quickly. He already turned heads with his stunning lacrosse-style assist against the Buffalo Sabres. But there is a lot more to Zegras’ game. He’s a smooth skater with speed and escapability to boot. He has a wicked release on both his snap and slap shot. There’s some serious silk in his mitts as well. When in tight or on the shootout, Zegras can get it done on 1 v 1 situations. In only his second season, Zegras has put up a respectable stat line of 8 goals and 17 assists in 30 games thus far. He’s also a capable defender at 6-foot and 173 pounds. In a few years, we could be seeing a true star to take Getzlaf’s place.
Poetic Justice
I find it fitting that exciting players are heading to rebuilding teams. Not long ago, I wrote about the exceptional rookie Lucas Raymond. The Calder Trophy would be a three-horse race if Zegras was still considered a rookie. The front runners would be Zegras, Raymond, and his Detroit teammate Moritz Seider. In recent years, the Ducks and Wings have both been through a lot. Considering they last won it all in 2007 and 2008 respectively, having some great young players is more than deserved. Zegras, like Raymond, is exciting hockey fans near and far while having his teams rebuild ahead of schedule.
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