Anaheim Ducks and Trevor Zegras Remain Locked in a Contract Standoff

Catch up on the latest rumors and speculation surrounding the Anaheim Ducks and unsigned RFA center Trevor Zegras. What's the holdup on a new contract?

NHL training camps have been open for over a week, but there's no sign the Anaheim Ducks and Trevor Zegras are any closer to an agreement on a new contract.

Zegras, 22, has completed his entry-level contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $925,000 and performance bonuses that would take him up to $1.775 million per season. Runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, Zegras is coming off his second straight 60-plus point performance, leading the Ducks last season with 65 points.

Given that Zegras is the Ducks' most talented young player and a foundational piece in their rebuild, it was assumed he'd be under contract before training camp began.

In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated there didn't seem to be much movement in negotiations between the two sides. He cited TVA Sports' Renaud Lavoie reporting the Ducks had offered the Zegras camp between $3 million and $4 million annually.

It's worth noting that Zegras finished well ahead of Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy and Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield in the Calder voting in 2022. Boldy is now in the first season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million, while Caufield is pulling in a cap hit of $7.85 million on an eight-year deal.

Comparable centers include Caufield's linemate Nick Suzuki (eight years, $7.875 million per year) and Buffalo's Dylan Cozens (seven years, $7.1 million per year).

Friedman believes the two sides discussed a three-year contract at one point. If so, he thinks the Ducks must offer a higher AAV.

Speaking of Lavoie, he recently claimed the Buffalo Sabres were monitoring Zegras' situation. So far, there's no indication that the Ducks are peddling him.