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The 2024-25 season had been another year of disappointing production and injury trouble for Anaheim Ducks star forward Trevor Zegras. He had just 10 points (4-6=10) in 24 games before suffering a torn meniscus that required surgery and a nearly seven-week recovery, forcing him to miss 23 games.
Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Victory over the Oilers
In 2023-24, Zegras missed all but 31 games for the Ducks with two separate injuries and tallied just 15 points (6-9=15), but finished strong, scoring eight points (2-6=8) in his final eight games.
For the franchise, last season was one of establishing culture and accountability within the Ducks roster on and off the ice. Zegras faced the challenge head-on, and dedicated his efforts to refining his 200-foot game, impacting both sides of the puck in all three zones. With that, however, came a dip in production.
Similar to a year ago, Zegras further refined the details of his game and added layers, including puck protection, manipulating on the forecheck, and, especially lately, establishing a presence in front of the opposing net. Like last year as well, the production is catching up and he’s being rewarded for his efforts on the scoresheet.
“We’ve been talking to him about different levels of development for him. Clearly, he’s an elite puck-distributor passer. We want him to shoot pucks more, and I think he’s tried to do that,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said on Monday. “The ultimate level for him, which I think he’s done a nice job, is the compete level, winning loose puck battles and being strong on the walls. So I think it’s all coming together.”
Zegras has nine points (4-5=9) in his last nine games and his four goals haven’t been of the flashy variety. They’ve all been scored off of tips, rebounds, or potting loose pucks around the opposing crease. It’s certainly been a departure for the player who burst onto the scene with Michigans, Dishigans, and spin-o-ramas a handful of years ago now. These goals have been a reflection of his growth as a player and the elements added to his game throughout the last two seasons.
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"One hundred percent," Zegras said when asked about his attention to detail earlier in the season. "I mean, I watch a lot of hockey, and I feel like if you want to be a part of a winning team, you gotta do all the small things right all the time.
"I was never (a) physical, puck on stick (player), and I think when (Cronin) was hired, (his goal) was to teach me the defensive side of the game. Not that it hadn't sunk in until now, but I'm learning.”
This is Zegras’ fourth full year in the NHL and he has gone through trials and tribulations when it comes to fleshing out the aspects of his game that work at this level. His next step will be to blend the two areas of his game he’s worked tirelessly to develop to become the incredibly gifted, creative, and fun player from his first two seasons in the league who has the ability to tally 80-90 points as well as the player who can force opponents into turnovers and hound them to win possession back for his team.
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