The Philadelphia Flyers are picking 11th in the 2019 NHL Entry draft. That much is certain. There are still a lot of question marks surrounding who the franchise will select with that pick and there are a lot of options for the team to consider. Over the next few months, we will focus in on the possible prospects the Flyers could draft this June. Today we will take a close look at American forward Trevor Zegras.
Background
Trevor Zegras is a left-handed center from Bedford, New York. This past year, Zegras laced his skates for the USNTDP. In total, he recorded 119 points in 83 games. Next season Zegras is committed to playing college hockey for Boston University.
Offense
First and foremost, Trevor Zegras is a playmaker. His playmaking abilities standout because of his creativity. Zegras does not hesitate to make no-look or behind-the-back passes frequently. His ability to complete these difficult passes so naturally is absolutely jaw-dropping. There is no place on the ice Zegras can’t pick apart the opposition with his playmaking. Of course, his creativity on the ice can sometimes backfire and lead to turnovers. In time, he will realize that occasionally the simple play is the best one. Though he is naturally a pass-first player, Zegras can also put the puck in the back of the net with his strong shot. However, he is still working on his accuracy. Of course, shooting the puck with more precision will only make him more dangerous in the offensive end.
Defense
Defense is an area in need of a great deal of improvement. To put it bluntly, Zegras is currently not an effective defensive player. He typically just loops around the ice and hesitates to use his body. Physicality really is not a part of his game at all as Zegras prefers to rely on stickwork. Obviously, he will need to develop a more physical game if he wants to succeed at the professional level.
Intangibles
As mentioned earlier, Zegras’s playmaking is arguably the best this draft class has to offer. His decision making is average-to-good but needs to improve as he matures. His anticipation on offense is top-notch which factors into his effective playmaking. Zegras’s competitiveness is apparent on the offensive but disappears when playing defense. Of course, the same level of competitiveness needs to be shown consistently in all areas of the game. Zegras also has good speed and great mobility and balance.
Breaking it all Down
Any team that drafts Trevor Zegras is doing so because of his tremendous offensive upside. The young center has the skill in that area to be a real force down the road. However, he still needs to put in a lot of work on his defense and improving on some of the intricacies of his overall game. Some scouts believe that he may benefit from being placed on the wing while he continues to develop.
Currently, Zegras is ranked by most scouting agencies somewhere in the top ten. However, there is a good chance that he falls due to teams drafting a need and not necessarily the best player available. Just one or two of those moves and Zegras might be available when the Flyers pick at 11. If he is still on the board, Philadelphia will strongly have to consider selecting Zegras. However, his defensive struggles and overall depth of the first round may also make the Flyers go a different route.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Rena Laverty
