A short-term contract is better than nothing...
The Anaheim Ducks have put together a solid offseason so far as they try to get their rebuild started. They brought in veterans Alex Killorn and Radko Gudas to help mentor the younger players on the roster, a clear signal that they want to take that next step forward.
The team also retained Troy Terry, signing him to a new seven-year contract that keeps him in Anaheim for the foreseeable future. But one big piece of the Ducks' future has been left in limbo: the status of restricted free agent Trevor Zegras.
The Ducks and Zegras haven't come to terms yet this summer, but the two sides likely want to stay together. Zegras has emerged as one of the better young players in the NHL today and is a potential star in the making.
However, it's now being reported that the two sides will likely come together on more of a short-term contract. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the two sides will likely come to terms on more of a short-term contract than anything that ties them together.
“One of the things that I heard on Zegras is it’s likely going to be more of a bridge or a short-term deal. I think, at this point in time, it’s not trending towards anything in terms of a long-term extension,” Friedman said. “One of the reasons is we’re still going to see where the cap is going to go over the next couple of years.
Friedman sees the Ducks wanting more flexibility down the line as the reason. It makes sense for a team like Anaheim to want the ability to pivot if they feel the need.
“One thing with the Ducks is I think they want to keep their terms tight. Troy Terry (who signed a seven-year, $49 million contract on Aug. 2) was a bit of a different situation because he was heading towards unrestricted free agency, and I think they had to make a decision on him. But on Zegras, who’s still a few years away from that, I think everybody is comfortable here with doing this shorter as opposed to longer. So, I think that’s where we're going to end up. It would be a surprise if it was a long-term deal at this point in time.”
Zegras put up 23 goals and 46 assists last season for the Ducks. His impressive skating skills and flair for the dramatic on the ice dazzled fans. It's part of the reason why he has risen to the ranks across the league and what makes him unique in the field of play.
No matter what happens, the Ducks need to keep Zegras with the organization. He is one of the engines that drives this Anaheim team, and he should be a vital member of the team going forward.