Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras has recently found himself at the center of trade rumors, with the Montreal Canadiens emerging as a potential destination. Zegras, who is entering the second year of his three-year, $17.25 million contract, is a former first-round pick and still only 23 years old. Despite his youth and talent, trade speculation has surrounded him, with the website PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool even featuring a fan-proposed trade scenario that would send Zegras to Montreal.
In this hypothetical deal, the Canadiens would acquire Zegras along with a 2026 second-round pick, while the Ducks would receive two promising prospects: Michael Hage and Logan Mailloux. This trade would allow Zegras to reunite with his close friend Cole Caufield, potentially slotting him as Montreal’s second-line center, significantly deepening their roster. Last season, Zegras played in 31 games, scoring 6 goals and 9 assists for a total of 15 points.
For Anaheim, the proposed trade would bring in two valuable young players. Michael Hage, a centerman selected 21st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, had an impressive season in the USHL, recording 33 goals and 42 assists for 75 points in 34 games. Logan Mailloux, a defenseman and first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut with the Canadiens last season, where he tallied one assist in his lone appearance.
Zegras has acknowledged the difficulties of dealing with trade rumors, which have persisted since last season. In an interview with The Athletic, he expressed that it’s hard not to be affected by the speculation. Despite this, Zegras hasn’t discussed the rumors with Ducks GM Pat Verbeek but trusts that Verbeek will act in the best interest of the team. Zegras, who has 211 NHL games under his belt with 55 goals and 99 assists for 154 points, remains focused on playing his best hockey.
The Canadiens are reportedly one of several teams interested in acquiring Zegras. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has set a high price for Zegras, and at least eight teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers, have expressed serious interest. However, with two years remaining on his contract, Anaheim is under no immediate pressure to trade the young forward.
