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Ducks Top Prospect Trevor Zegras Creating Question Marks in Anaheim

Trevor Zegras, the Ducks 9th overall selection from 2019 is creating ‘good’ problems for Bob Murray and Dallas Eakins.

Heading into todays World Junior Championship (WJC) action, American center Trevor Zegras was atop the tournament scoring with five goals and five assists in three games. He has now surpassed last years WJC point total of nine (all assists) in five games at the 2020 event.

Related: Quinton Byfield Has ‘Don’t Ignore Me’ Performance Game At World Juniors

BU Freshman Season

The Bedford, New York native is clearly driving the play in most situations and is a threat every time he steps over the boards. The big question after the tournament will be whether he can translate his current success into a roster or taxi squad spot with the Anaheim Ducks?

The 9th overall selection in 2019 is certainly making a case for himself. Zegras was drafted after spending two years with a stacked US national program. He was one of three USNTDP/U18 players to be drafted in the top-10 of last years entry draft. Post draft he joined the Boston University Terrriers program for his freshman season in 2019-20. Being the new kid on the block did not seem to bother him, managing a point per game pace with 11 goals and 25 assists in 33 Hockey-East games.

That kind of NCAA rookie season prompted the Ducks to sign Zegras to his entry level contract in March of 2020. I would sincerely be interested to find out whether Ducks GM Bob Murray and his scouting staff thought that the youngster would challenge for a roster spot in 2020-21. My guess is no.

Ducks or Gulls in 2020-21?

Reason being Anaheim has 14 roster forwards under contract heading into training camp later this week. They also have a good mix of veteran experience and youth at the center position led by Ryan Getzlaf, followed by Adam Henrique and Sam Steel. That depth creates question marks for Anaheim if Zegras is ready to play.

Trevor Zegras Team USA Anaheim Ducks Prospect

Do they keep Zegras around in a bottom six role or on the taxi squad with limited playing time or game action? Or do they send him two hours south to San Diego so that he can play premium minutes with the teams AHL affiliate – the Gulls?

With the recent AHL announcement of a new start date of February 5th, 2021 my guess is that he may need one more year of being a ‘go to’ guy in a top line situation. This would be a great development strategy as I do not see Anaheim challenging for a playoff spot in the re-aligned West division. The question then becomes – what is the rush?

Especially considering long-time Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf becomes an UFA after the 2020-21 season. The only way it might make sense is if Zegras is truly ready (physically, mentally, emotionally) and the team plans to trade Getzlaf. 

They wouldn’t. Would they?

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