Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras once saw his face on the cover of EA Sports NHL 23. Now he’s trying to make his real-life game match the hype — and in a twist straight out of the digital age, he’s turning to that very game for inspiration.
Recent reports indicate that Zegras has leaned on the franchise mode and its in-game faceoff ratings to sharpen his craft. The logic is simple: if Sean Couturier — his new Flyers teammate and one of the best defensive centers in hockey — owns a sky-high faceoff rating in the game, maybe it’s worth asking him how to translate that into reality.
Zegras has done just that, seeking Couturier’s guidance at the dot. It’s part video-game trick, part professional humility, and exactly the kind of step that could take his career to the next level.
And make no mistake — Zegras is aiming high.
New Flyers Center Trevor Zegras Hoping to Make Former Team ‘Look Silly’
After the shocking June trade that sent him from Anaheim to Philadelphia, the 24-year-old center made it clear he wants to thrive in orange and black. Bleacher Report went as far as to predict that Zegras will make the Ducks “look silly” for letting him go. Early signs suggest he’s motivated to prove them right.
For years in Anaheim, Zegras was branded as the NHL’s highlight-reel showman. Michigan goals, slick dangles, audacious passes — his creativity drew millions of views but often sparked debates about substance over style. Was he just a human YouTube clip, or could he drive winning hockey?
Philadelphia is betting on the latter.
At 6-foot, 185 pounds, Zegras brings undeniable skill and vision down the middle of the ice. His first four NHL seasons included back-to-back 60-point campaigns before injuries and inconsistency slowed him last year. Still, scouts and analysts rave about his offensive instincts — his ability to see plays a step ahead, to unlock defenses with one flick of the wrists.
What he’s lacked, and what Couturier might help him refine, is the gritty detail work of a true top-line center: winning draws, supporting the defense, shouldering tough minutes. If Zegras adds even a steady 50 percent win rate in the faceoff circle to his arsenal, his value skyrockets.
Flyers Center Trevor Zegras Looks to Improve on Defense, Face-Offs
The Flyers, in transition under GM Danny Brière, see Zegras as both a marketing star and a foundational player. Acquiring him in exchange for forward Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick was as much about energizing a restless fan base as it was about strengthening the roster. Philadelphia hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2020, and fans have been desperate for someone who blends flash with substance.
Zegras fits the bill. He’s not just a content machine; he’s a young center with a few years of team control left who will become a restricted free agent after this season, when he earns $5.75 million. He’s also a New York native, making this move a de facto homecoming to the Northeast, something he admitted felt right in interviews with the Inquirer.
“I’m very excited to play in the [Metropolitan Division], just because of how close it is to home,” Zegras said. “My family didn’t get to come out to California a ton while I was there, so they’re definitely excited.”
The Ducks justified moving Zegras by citing culture, fit, and the desire to build around other young forwards like Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish. But if Zegras thrives in Philly — and especially if he evolves into a more complete player — the optics will sting. Anaheim didn’t just trade away skill; they traded away marketability and a player whose best years might still be ahead.
As Sportsnet pointed out in their preseason preview, the Flyers now have a forward group that looks far more dynamic with Zegras in the mix. Combine him with young wingers like Matvei Michkov and Tyson Foerster, and suddenly the rebuild feels more like a youth surge.
Training camp buzz is one thing; proving it over 82 games is another. Zegras still has to answer the questions that dogged him in Anaheim: consistency, defense, and durability. But in Philadelphia, the challenge feels sharper, the opportunity bigger. He doesn’t just want to be a cover star. He wants to be the kind of player who drags his team forward, who rewards the Flyers for believing in him — and who makes the Ducks regret their impatience.