Flyers Miss an Opportunity to Test Zegras at Center Amid Abols Injury
The Philadelphia Flyers are stuck in a skid, and with each loss, the urgency to find answers grows louder. But instead of taking a bold step toward potential long-term growth, they’ve opted to stick with the status quo-even with a golden opportunity staring them right in the face.
That opportunity came in the form of unfortunate news: center Rodrigo Abols suffered a brutal leg injury against the New York Rangers, one that not only ends his Olympic hopes with Latvia but likely sidelines him for months. It’s the kind of injury you hate to see-an athlete’s dream derailed in an instant, his leg bending in a way it simply shouldn’t.
With Abols now out indefinitely, the Flyers had a roster hole to fill down the middle. They moved quickly, recalling veteran Lane Pederson from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Pederson, 28, leads the Phantoms in scoring and brings some NHL experience-71 games across stints with the Coyotes, Sharks, Canucks, and Blue Jackets. He’s a serviceable plug-in, a fourth-line center who can hold his own in limited minutes.
But here’s the thing: Pederson isn’t a long-term solution. He’s not a sparkplug, not a high-upside play.
He’s here to fill a gap. Nothing more, nothing less.
And that’s where the Flyers missed a chance to experiment with something that could shape their future-putting Trevor Zegras at center.
A Window Opens, But the Flyers Look the Other Way
Zegras has been a revelation since arriving in Philadelphia. Cast off by Anaheim, he’s taken over the Flyers’ offense and become a driving force behind their early-season success.
With Matvei Michkov still finding his sophomore footing, Zegras has been the guy. The one creating chances, pushing pace, and giving this team an identity.
But he’s done it all from the wing.
Zegras is a natural center. That’s where he’s most comfortable, where he’s played his best hockey in the past.
And yet, head coach Rick Tocchet has kept him on the flank, tethered to Christian Dvorak. It’s a conservative approach, one that prioritizes short-term stability over long-term discovery.
With Abols out, the Flyers had a clear path to shift Zegras to center. It was a chance to see what he could do in the middle, even if just for a stretch.
Instead, they passed. Pederson gets the nod, and the lineup remains largely unchanged.
What Could’ve Been: A Reimagined Flyers Lineup
Let’s take a step back and look at what this lineup could have been with Zegras down the middle.
You keep Sean Couturier and Noah Cates in their usual center roles. Zegras slides into the third spot-maybe not technically the “first-line” center yet, but it’s a start. That gives the Flyers a more balanced attack, with three lines capable of generating offense and a fourth-line role that could rotate between Pederson, Nic Deslauriers, or other depth options.
Now picture Zegras between Travis Konecny and Denver Barkey. That’s a line with speed, creativity, and offensive upside.
Give him sheltered minutes, favorable matchups, and let him find his rhythm. Let him fail, even.
Because the only way to know if he’s your future top-six center is to actually put him there.
Instead, we’re left wondering. Again.
The Cost of Playing It Safe
This isn’t about criticizing Pederson. He’s done everything asked of him in the AHL and earned the call-up.
But this moment was about more than just replacing a fourth-line center. It was about taking a step toward answering one of the biggest questions facing this franchise: Can Trevor Zegras be the guy down the middle?
The Flyers are trending toward another season that ends after Game 82. That’s the reality.
So why not use the remaining 35 games to experiment? To learn?
To find out?
Worst-case scenario? Zegras struggles at center, and you move him back to the wing.
Best case? You uncover a long-term solution at a position that’s been a question mark for years.
And here’s the thing-it’s not too late.
Even with Pederson in the fold, Tocchet could still reshuffle the lineup. Pederson can play wing.
He can be scratched. There’s room to maneuver.
But based on how things have gone so far, it doesn’t look like that move is coming anytime soon.
The Future is Calling-Are the Flyers Listening?
Zegras isn’t just a stopgap. He’s part of the future.
A potential cornerstone. And while the Flyers have shown flashes of promise this season, they’re still very much in the middle of a rebuild.
These are the moments where you learn what you have. Where you take calculated risks to see what sticks.
The Abols injury was unfortunate, no doubt about it. But it also opened a door. And right now, it feels like the Flyers are choosing not to walk through it.
There’s still time. Still games left. Still a chance to find out if Zegras can be the center this team has been searching for.
But the clock is ticking.