The Flyers haven’t had a center with at least 60 points since Couturier had 76 (33 goals, 43 assists) in 80 games in 2018-19.
“We hope he can help in the center position, because that’s obviously an area that we could improve,” general manager Daniel Briere said. “But at the same time, if (Tocchet) decides that he’s better suited on the wing and there’s other guys that play better in the middle, he’s going to decide. But we certainly hope that he can help fill the void in the middle.”
Tocchet said he and Zegras had a “very transparent” conversation about what it would take for the 24-year-old to play center this season.
“I said I’ve coached games where you have played center and I understand the reason why (the Ducks) put him on the wing,” Tocchet said. “I know his strengths. Through the neutral zone he can pass on his backhand and his forehand, he’s got great hands, he can make a play. We know that. He said to me, I had some problems down low, some coverages and boxing out some people. And I said that’s the stuff we’ll work on with video and practice. We’re going to work on that stuff.”
Zegras also could boost a power play that finished 30th in the NHL last season (15.0 percent), along with defenseman Cam York, a restricted free agent who signed a five-year, $25.75 million contract ($5.15 million average annual value) July 7.
York had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 66 games last season, down from the 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) he had in 82 games in 2023-24. He played a total of 9:36 on the power play, a number he hopes rises significantly.
“I feel offensively I have so much more to give,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot of skill that other defensemen don’t have.”