The Flyers finally landed their guy.
General manager Daniel Briere revealed Monday morning that Philadelphia had been eyeing Trevor Zegras for quite a while before pulling off the trade with the Anaheim Ducks.
“We’ve been talking about this possibility for some time now,” Briere told reporters. The deal had to wait, though – the Flyers didn’t have the right pieces to offer, and Anaheim wasn’t in any rush to move their young star.
The timing makes sense. Ryan Poehling, who’s heading to Anaheim in the deal, just wrapped up his best NHL season with 31 points in 68 games. He’s been exactly what the Flyers needed in their bottom six – a reliable worker who does all the little things right.
But now the big question is: where does Zegras fit in?
Briere didn’t dance around the team’s obvious need for help at center. He’s hoping their new acquisition can eventually slot into that role, but he’s not making any promises.
“That’s going to be Rick’s call,” Briere said, referring to new head coach Rick Tocchet. “We’ve got some options to look at.”
The trade marks a major splash for a Flyers team that’s been looking to add more offensive firepower. Zegras, known for his flashy playmaking ability, could be exactly what they’ve been missing.
