Ducks' Reported Contract Offer To Trevor Zegras Is Major Lowball

There have been reports of what the Anaheim Ducks are offering Trevor Zegras on his next contract and a clear reason why he hasn't signed yet. According to Renaud Lavoie, the Ducks are only offering Zegras in the $3-4 million AAV range, likely on a bridge deal.

With the talent level of Zegras and his role on the team right now, it is obvious why the sides are so far apart. It's a dangerous game the Ducks seem to be playing with their top talent as they have over $16 million in cap space to work with this season and can easily offer a bit more to their star.

Per Big Head Hockey, there are only six forwards in the NHL over the past five years with as many or more points than Zegras at his current age, which includes Andrei Svechnikov, Jack Hughes, Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, and Elias Pettersson. On each of their first contracts out of their entry-level deals, nobody signed for less than 9.05% of the cap, equaling at least $7.5 million AAV.

In two horrible seasons for the Ducks, Zegras has come in and scored 46 goals and 126 points in 156 games, 23 goals and at least 60 points in each season as the number one center. It is very early to start trying to phase out Zegras as the number one centerman with Mason McTavish only heading into his second season and with Leo Carlsson not even playing a game in the NHL yet. The Ducks have only done damage to the relationship to this point and it could very well lead to the 22-year-old not wanting to stay in Anaheim.