Ducks GM Clarifies Trevor Zegras Trade Rumors

The Anaheim Ducks made a few moves at the trade deadline, most notably dealing Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick to the Edmonton Oilers, and earlier, Ilya Lyubushkin to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But one big name that didn't get moved was dynamic (and currently injured) forward Trevor Zegras. The Montreal Canadiens, among others, were said to be interested in the 23-year-old center. 

But Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has set the record straight now on Zegras, saying a trade was never close. In fact, it wasn't even discussed. Eric Stephens reports in The Athletic:

Verbeek... brushed away the heavy chatter about any potential Zegras trade by strenuously stating he didn’t shop him or get calls from teams as (the deadline) approached. Injuries have limited (Zegras) to only 20 games, with a broken ankle keeping him out since Jan. 9.

“We want ‘Z’ to play with us,” Verbeek said. “Hopefully, he can get through this injury pretty quick and get him back on the ice.” 

It's been a rough year for Zegras, both on and off the ice. First, his contract situation as a restricted free agent dragged on through the summer, and even into training camp, at which point he finally agreed to a three-year deal worth $5.75 million annually. 

But then the troubles began on the ice, as he scored just one goal and had one assist in his first 12 games, and things never really got better from there.  A lower-body injury kept him out for six weeks from early November to almost Christmas, and when he broke his ankle eight games after returning, he was sitting on just four goals and seven points in 20 games. This, after back-to-back 23-goal seasons in his first two full NHL seasons, loaded with sizzling highlight plays. 

He hopes to get back in the lineup soon, and while Verbeek says no trade was ever discussed at the deadline, we wouldn't be surprised to see this possibility revisited in the offseason. 

Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports