NHL Trade Deadline 2024: 4 Landing Spots for Trevor Zegras

The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is one week away. We are starting to see some moves made because of it, but there are still many notable names left to pay attention to. One of them is Anaheim Ducks star forward Trevor Zegras.

There has been a lot of chatter throughout this season that the Ducks are at least willing to listen to offers for Zegras. He has naturally generated interest, as he is a young forward who a team could build around. Because of this, let’s go over the top four landing spots for Zegras now. 

Zegras Trade Prediction: Flyers

The Ducks and Flyers made a big splash earlier this season in the Cutter Gauthier/Jamie Drysdale trade. However, the Flyers will likely express interest in Zegras, too. The Flyers do not currently have a young, high-impact center to build around during their rebuild. Acquiring Zegras would change things on that front. 

While the Flyers are expected to be sellers at the deadline, they are also in a position to be buyers if it also helps them beyond this season. A player like Zegras would be a long-term investment for Philadelphia, as he is under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season and will still be a restricted free agent once his current deal is over. 

Zegras would also help the Flyers during their playoff push this season, as he is inching closer to his return from injury. Thus, Philly is a team to watch over this next week. 

Zegras Trade Prediction: Canadiens

The Canadiens have confirmed interest in Zegras, as NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported last month that the Habs had called Anaheim about him. With the Canadiens in the middle of a rebuild, adding a young star like Zegras to their group would be massive.

Zegras, 22, would fit perfectly into the Canadiens’ rebuild, as he would be in his prime once they become more competitive. Along with that, the Canadiens desperately need help down the middle. After Nick Suzuki, their depth down the middle completely falls off. Adding Zegras would create an excellent one-two punch of him and Suzuki down the middle.

The Canadiens have the assets and cap space to pull off a trade centering around Zegras. As a result, Montreal is an obvious fit for the 2019 ninth-overall pick. 

Zegras Trade Prediction: Blackhawks

The Blackhawks would be an outstanding landing spot for Zegras. Superstar rookie Connor Bedard is having a great first season in the NHL, but it is apparent that he needs more help. As a newly rebuilding team, the Blackhawks have a very weak roster. Bringing in Zegras would give Bedard another star to play with long-term.

If the Blackhawks acquired Zegras, they could use him as a winger to play with Bedard on their first line and power play. However, if they wanted to spread out their talent, he could also slot in as the club’s 2C.

The Blackhawks have an array of draft picks and a strong prospect pool, so they could easily find a way to bring in Zegras. It is an avenue that they should be considering.  

Zegras Trade Prediction: Ducks

The prospect of Zegras staying with the Ducks is also there. Anaheim does not need to rush a trade, as the New York native has multiple years left on his contract and is nowhere close to reaching his UFA status. As a result, there’s a possibility that they do not consider dealing him until at least the offseason.

Zegras is a special player, and while he has been in the rumor mill, the Ducks could decide to keep him around as they continue their rebuild. While they have an array of promising young forwards, moving on from a player like Zegras comes with real risk.

We will need to wait and see what happens with Zegras from here. If the Ducks decide to move him, the Flyers, Canadiens, and Blackhawks are the big teams to watch.