Going into the 2025-26 campaign, one of the central questions surrounding the Philadelphia Flyers was the matter of whether 24-year-old Trevor Zegras, once seen as one of the game’s bright young star forwards, would be able to rediscover the level of play he’d once achieved – and then lost – as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. The early returns for Zegras and Flyers have been exceptional. Zegras leads Philadelphia in scoring with 16 points in 15 games, and has looked exactly like the creative, dynamic playmaker he was at times as a Duck.
As a result of Zegras’ strong start to his time in Philadelphia, increased attention has been paid to the fact that the player is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Although he’s looked great as a Flyer, Zegras is still a player with a track record of inconsistency, and he has struggled with injuries over the last two years. But even considering those factors, it appears the Flyers are looking to get Zegras locked into an extension that will keep him in Philadelphia moving forward. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts Podcast said “I think” Zegras and the Flyers “are talking about an extension.” While he didn’t offer concrete details on what a Zegras extension could look like, it’s fair to say his early form has greatly increased the chances he earns a raise from the $5.75MM AAV he’s currently making.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- The Pittsburgh Penguins were expected by most to be one of the NHL’s weaker teams in 2025-26, but so far they’ve flipped the script on those observers to start this season. First-year head coach Dan Muse has his Penguins sitting seventh place in the NHL standings with a 9-5-1 record. Their strong play threatens to alter the team’s calculus when it comes to deciding whether to trade their key veteran contributors. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe wrote today that “As long as the Penguins keep playing like they have been, I don’t see [Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, or Rickard Rakell] being traded.” That’s a big deal for the Penguins, who regardless of their struggles in past years, are likely to want to give the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang the chance to make one last run for a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh.
- As Hockey Canada continues to plan for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, they’re reportedly relying on past leaders to guide their current management group. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported today that Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong has cut their long list of considered players to a set of 35–40 names. In addition, LeBrun noted that Canada’s management invited Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, who built Canada’s gold-winning teams for 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi, to speak to the current management team to offer his guidance. If Canada can manage to build a team anything like the ones they brought to Sochi and Vancouver, they’ll be an incredibly difficult team to beat.
Oh dear god we’re still beating the “Give Sid & the core one last run!” drum? Good luck with that.
Pens run won’t last. They’ve had a team friendly schedule so far. Hope they don’t blow the rebuild thinking they’re going to compete this year.
Yes, Yinzers, don’t let actual reality get in the way of the narrative.
Geno has been flying and is leading the league in assists but he’s just a washed up has been on a “nostaligia” tour, right? The fat guy who feeds his dead mom’s cats all day told you so…
Dumbest and lousiest fans in all of sports and they think they are the best and deserve everything.
Muse is a gem (turns out Sully is stale bum now), we are getting saves for the first time in a half decade, the PP is finally working and we’ve already blown our lottery chances at McKenna by being, you know, the best team in the NHL in October.
Sit back and enjoy your multiple future Hall of Famers still playing at a very high level and having one of best records in the NHL while playing very entertaining hockey, Yinzgrates.
If you are still angry, just go back to demanding that that NFL coach who has never had a losing record in two decades be fired.
You seem a bit upset. You do know people can have different opinions about things, right? And just because you are loud and obnoxious doesn’t make you right. Hope you have better days ahead.
People have a right to be morons, you are technically correct about that.
People also have a right to be cowards, Dude Who Unblocks To Reply And Then Reblocks.
Protect yourself from those different opinions you champion in the corner under your blanket, I guess.
Pens fans had Lemieux and Jagr and the Stanley Cup and even after that the team was almost relocated if Lemieux didn’t save them. To me that says enough.
Thank you for mentioning this…
We had the best record in the NHL in October AND the second lowest attendance.
Yeah true. Ppl who actively use mute button on this site actually just protecting their cozy bubble by hiding from “mean comments online”. Reject reality! Embrace delusion! BLUE PILL TO THE MAX!
Also, FTR…Erik Karlsson has been absolutely brilliant this year.
In BOTH ends of the ice.
I would say that this is proof that he’s was a DOG the past few years, but…maybe Sully just didn’t know how to use him. He’s playing Norris level hockey under Muse right now.