That’s a comparatively fast ascent from Friedman’s report that the Geese have been in deep talks with a number of golf equipment on a Zegras transfer. Whereas it didn’t seem something was significantly imminent on the time, that’s now modified.
Whereas Zegras has spent the previous two seasons totally on the wing, he’ll presumably shift again to his pure heart place in Philadelphia. The Flyers have been on the hunt for a younger, established NHL heart with a top-six projection for some time now. They have been beforehand connected to pending Wild RFA Marco Rossi, however his price uncertainty and want for a long-term deal made these talks stall. As an alternative, they’ll go for a participant with a barely riskier projection in Zegras, however land somebody signed by means of subsequent season at a less expensive cap hit than what a Rossi contract would have price them.
Accidents have robbed Zegras of practically half his potential workload over the previous two seasons in Anaheim since signing a three-year, $17.25M contract in 2023. He’s had simply an 18-29–47 scoring line in 88 video games throughout that point, however nonetheless averaged over 17 minutes per sport and noticed his defensive efficiency enhance considerably this previous season with constructive relative possession numbers in much less sheltered offensive deployment at even power.
That offensive regression was nonetheless extremely disappointing contemplating how Zegras burst onto the scene. In his first two full NHL campaigns, Zegras hit the 20-goal and 60-point marks on each events and completed because the Calder Trophy runner-up to Moritz Seider in 2022. It seemed like he was absolutely set to hit on the upside the Geese thought he had when deciding on him ninth total in 2019, however his subsequent accidents and contract stalemate two years in the past threw that plan astray.
He now will get a contemporary begin in Philly for an acquisition price that Flyers basic supervisor Daniel Brière actually gained’t lose any sleep over. Whereas Poehling was a high-end fourth-line piece for them, they’ve loads of inside alternative candidates for that position and nonetheless have three second-round selections on this yr’s draft after dealing away the Columbus decide.
Whereas it’s an underwhelming return for the Geese contemplating the place his worth and projection have been two years in the past, it’s presumably greater than they might’ve gotten had they minimize bait following Zegras’ 15-point exhibiting in simply 31 video games in 2023-24. Additionally they achieve $3.85M in cap area and extra roster flexibility amongst their top-nine forwards as they pursue a major free agent addition this summer time.
Giving Zegras top-six minutes will permit names like Bobby Brink and Noah Cates to serve in additional snug third-line minutes in Rick Tocchet’s first season as head coach. Whether or not the high-ceiling playmaker will get deployed on a unit with 2023 No. 7 total decide Matvei Michkov out of the gate stays to be seen, however his pickup immediately gives Tocchet a way more offensively dynamic center-winger duo than he might have in any other case constructed.
Whereas Zegras is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract, he’ll be a restricted free agent in 2026 and nonetheless has one other yr of staff management left after that. Swapping out Poehling for Zegras does drop the Flyers to a still-comfortable $15.1M in out there cap area with notable RFAs Jakob Pelletier and Cameron York nonetheless to signal and two different roster spots to fill, per PuckPedia.
Poehling really had a standout offensive exhibiting in 2024-25, posting a career-best 12-19–31 scoring line in 68 video games whereas averaging 13:53 per sport. He was nonetheless expendable with Cates not too long ago receiving an extension and 2024 first-rounder Jett Luchanko pushing for an NHL job subsequent yr. He additionally shot at a 16.9% fee that may presumably regress in Anaheim.
He’s nonetheless a strong bottom-six pickup for the Geese, even when the futures they’re receiving are underwhelming. He’s a 2026 UFA at a cap hit of simply $1.9M and could possibly be flipped on the deadline for an honest return if issues don’t pan out the way in which Anaheim hopes they’ll subsequent yr. He’s a short-term improve down the center over a reputation like pending RFA Isac Lundestrom and will push him or somebody like Ryan Strome to a spot on the wing.
