Man, this would be a shocking move by Anaheim...
With the way that the Anaheim Ducks have drafted recently, they have the look of a future powerhouse team. General Manager Pat Verbeek has put together a plan and has executed it well thus far.
Anaheim will be looking to take that next step this coming season, just a year after finishing with the worst record in the entire league. Their free agent signings of veterans Alex Killorn and Rudko Gudas signal that the organization is ready to move ahead of schedule.
But with all the young talent on the roster, there may be a time when someone gets left out. It remains to be seen who that will be, but one writer seems to believe that it could be the star in the making center, Trevor Zegras.
Rob Couch of The Hockey Writers is predicting that Zegras could end up being the odd man out down the line for Anaheim.
“One of Zegras, Mason McTavish, or Leo Carlsson will be shifted to the wing, or one of them will be moved. They are all top-10 picks drafted in the previous five drafts. Not to mention that they also grabbed Nathan Gaucher at 22nd overall in 2022 and he’s also a centerman. There will be a conversation sooner than later as Carlsson acclimates to the NHL and it doesn’t make sense for him to be playing in the bottom-six anymore. We could see that as soon as this season or in 2-3 seasons depending on how he looks against NHL competition."
Now, this is a bold claim here because Zegras has established himself as not only a fan favorite but a really powerful player in the league. His skill set has allowed this Ducks team to unlock some really good stuff offensively.
But it is strange that he still hasn’t signed with the team this offseason. He is currently a restricted free agent, but reports are that he is more likely to sign a short-term deal with Anaheim.
The Ducks want to maintain flexibility down the line throughout their payroll and roster. So, in theory, Zegras could end up being the odd one out. Anaheim does have plenty of talent on the team, and while Ducks fans wouldn’t like it, it’s a possibility.