The Flyers are betting big on Trevor Zegras, and the message around him is pretty clear: center is his job to lose.
That’s a notable shift for a player whose arrival in Philadelphia already helped change the trajectory of the team. Last season, the Flyers’ roster moves paid off in a major way, lifting them into the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Zegras was a big part of that run. He finished as one of the club’s top scorers in the regular season and then led the Flyers in scoring during their playoff push to the second round.
Now comes the next step. Zegras signed a four-year, $36.5 million extension this offseason after reaching restricted free agency, a deal that reflected just how well he fit once he landed in a new setting.
But the new contract also comes with a heavier burden. More money, more responsibility, and more expected of him right away.
The biggest question is where he plays. In a recent mailbag for The Athletic, Kevin Kurz said the Flyers expect Zegras to stay at center, and that the organization believes he “did enough for the coaching staff to believe he can remain there.” Kurz added that the situation is mostly about opportunity, because Philadelphia does not have many other center options at the moment.
“Whether he stays there, well, that will be up to him primarily, unless Daniel Briere goes out and finds another high-end center,” writes Kurz. “The plan is for Jett Luchanko to spend the season in AHL Lehigh Valley, so there really aren’t any other options for centers on the roster as it currently stands, unless Barkey gets more time there, too.”
That leaves Zegras in line to be one of the top two center options, alongside Christian Dvorak. For now, the Flyers appear committed to seeing whether he can hold the spot over a full season.
There is reason for caution, though. Zegras has not logged much time down the middle since the 2022-23 season with the Ducks, and his faceoff numbers there were uneven.
He won 131 of 253 draws, though he showed better results in the playoffs by winning 33 of 42 faceoffs. With him locked into the top six, Philadelphia needs those numbers to tilt more consistently in his favor during the regular season.
Zegras has already acknowledged that this is part of the job now. He said this offseason that he understands he needs to be better at center, and he’s embracing the challenge.
The Flyers’ lack of alternatives makes that challenge even more pronounced. Jett Luchanko is not expected to be on the pro roster to open the season, and Kurz also pointed to Denver Barkey as a possible candidate for more center reps.
Outside the organization, the options have thinned out too. Philadelphia made a run at Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson with a five-year, $90 million offer sheet, but the Ducks matched it and kept him in Anaheim.
Dylan Larkin remains on the trade block after his June request, though the Flyers were not on his limited list. That could shift if Larkin broadens his list after the Detroit Red Wings hire a new general manager, depending on how he chooses to handle the situation.
Beyond that, the board gets sparse fast. Robert Thomas appears to be off it after being discussed around the trade deadline.
Adam Fantilli also looks unlikely to move, with the Columbus Blue Jackets expected to work out a long-term extension. And Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are not realistic targets, with both seemingly set for the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively.
There may be more movement by next March’s trade deadline, but for now, the Flyers are counting on Zegras to handle the middle and prove he can keep the job.
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