Check out the latest on the Flyers and Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST FLYERS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz was asked what a contract extension for Trevor Zegras would look like.
The 24-year-old forward is in the final season of a three-year deal with a salary-cap hit of $5.75 million. Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks last summer, he leads the Flyers with 39 points.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).
Kurz speculated that Zegras could get a five-year, $45 million contract, with an average annual value of $9 million. It would make him the highest-paid player on the rebuilding Flyers, and enable him to sign another potentially monstrous deal when he turns 30.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be interesting to see if Zegras’ negotiations with the Flyers are smoother than those with the Ducks. The discussions for his current contract weren’t settled until Oct. 2, 2023. By that point, he missed training camp and the preseason, which adversely affected his play and contributed to a lower-body injury that cost him 20 games in 2023-24.
Zegras has arbitration rights this time, giving him more leverage with the Flyers than he had with the Ducks. If he maintains his point-per-game pace, he could seek more than $9 million annually.
Kurz doesn’t see the Flyers making big moves at the March trade deadline. He indicated they have no obvious candidates to sell that wouldn’t hurt their overall roster depth, and they aren’t in a position to trade high-end futures for rental players.
If the Flyers make a move, Kurz speculated that they might acquire a depth piece or two.
UPDATE ON THE PENGUINS
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski pointed out that winger Anthony Mantha’s improved play this season is helping the Penguins and improving his trade value if they become sellers by the March trade deadline. They could also opt to re-sign him or keep him as an “own rental” for the playoffs and let him depart via free agency in July.
Recently-acquired defenseman Brett Kulak has played significantly better since joining the Penguins and being paired with Kris Letang, which has also improved the latter’s performance. That could increase Kulak’s trade value if the Penguins become deadline sellers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As always, much will depend on where the Penguins are in the standings when the calendar flips to March. If they’re still in contention by then, they won’t jeopardize their chances of reaching the playoffs by shipping out Mantha and Kulak. Not when the hockey world keeps clamoring for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to get one more shot at the postseason before their careers end.