Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras is slated to return to this lineup Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken after missing the last 31 games with a broken ankle.
The Ducks officially announced the news of Zegras’ return on Tuesday afternoon, with Bally Sports West reported Aly Lozoff confirming that Zegras will skate on the third line alongside Isac Lundestrom and Brett Leason.
Zegras, 23, has had a difficult third season in Anaheim after setting career highs in assists and points with the team in 2022–23. The Bedford, New York product has skated in just 20 games this year, collecting four goals and seven points.
The Ducks are scheduled to take on the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. PT.
The Ducks originally selected Zegras with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The 6′ center quickly made a name for himself in Anaheim (and around the league) as a highly skilled player with the puck, regularly scooping the puck up onto his stick to shoot or pass.
Zegras finished second in the race for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie after scoring 23 goals and 61 points in 75 games in the 2021–22 season. He was subsequently named a cover athlete for NHL 23 alongside Sarah Nurse and collected 23 goals and 65 points in 82 games in 2022–23.
The Ducks struggled to come to terms with Zegras on a contract extension for much of the 2023 offseason, with the two sides only agreeing to a three-year, $5.75 million AAV bridge deal on October 2, shortly before the 2023–24 season began.
As is often the case for players after long contract disputes, Zegras struggled out of the gate with the Ducks. He suffered a different lower-body injury earlier in the season, came back for eight games, and then went down again after breaking his ankle in a game against the Nashville Predators on January 9.
Through 200 career games over parts of four seasons with the Ducks, Zegras has collected 53 goals and 146 points. He has yet to make his playoff debut — and won’t this year, with the Ducks currently sitting in 30th place in the league.
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