The Anaheim Ducks are in a tricky spot right now, as they started the season as one of the hottest teams in the NHL; they've quickly fell off in the standings with eight losses throughout their past nine games.
Some may make a case for the absence of their young star Trevor Zegras affecting the teams' productivity but that is proved false as young stars such as Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson have stepped up to take over the scoring prowess.
McTavish boasts an impressive 21 points in 20 games, while Carlsson, the second overall pick right after Connor Bedard in this years draft, has notched up 9 points, including 6 goals, in 14 games.
Trevor Zegras was involved in a sticky contract situation before the season started, but he ended up choosing to stay in Anaheim and signed a new deal worth $5.75 million for the next three years. However, his on-ice performance has been less than stellar this season, with only one goal and one assist in 12 games, and he currently sits on the injured list.
The question arises: is Zegras still a part of the Ducks' future plans? With two fresh faces taking over the offensive roles in Anaheim, Zegras might not fit the teams' plans as they are loaded with offence up front, but someone who could benefit from Zegras' abilities is Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks have several assets that would be worthwhile to send to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Zegras, more-so on the defensive end, as Anaheim lacks prospects on the back end.
The Blackhawks are overloaded with defensive prospect depth with names like Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Wyatt Kaiser, Isaac Phillips, Louis Crevier, Nolan Allan, Sam Rinzel, Jakub Galvas and many more notable names. All of those notable and prominent names will not be able to make the roster at once, which may lead the Blackhawks to sacrifice a few of them who are lower on the list.
Why not sacrifice a few assets in exchange for a prominent Trevor Zegras to play alongside Connor Bedard, who will both grow as a lethal pairing on forward in the NHL. With Taylor Hall injured for the entire season, Corey Perry's contract terminated, Bedard is left without his two linemates who he started the season with.
With emerging talents like McTavish and the presence of Carlsson, both playing center, speculation arises about Zegras' standing in Pat Verbeek's plans. It's plausible that teams across the NHL are already exploring the potential availability of this spectacular player, considering the impact he could bring to their rosters. The Chicago Blackhawks are among those reportedly keeping a close eye on Zegras as they assess potential trade opportunities.
POLL | ||
Should the Blackhawks acquire Zegras to play alongside Bedard? | ||
Yes | 114 | 78.1 % |
No | 32 | 21.9 % |
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