Trevor Zegras was overshadowed for most of his draft season by a historically great USNTDP program. This shouldn’t be the case in the 2019 NHL Draft, as he should be one of the first players chosen.
The USNTDP program had a historically great season in 2018-19. Its roster featured as many as six players who could go in the top 20. Obviously, most of the attention tends to gravitate towards Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, and Cole Caufield. But don’t overlook Trevor Zegras, who should be one of the top 10 players selected in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Zegras might have played at wing for the USNTDP, but I think he has what it takes to stick at center. When Turcotte and Hughes are gobbling up ice time, it’s hard to find time to play at center. Zegras has the tools necessary to play down the middle. At the very least, he should be able to drive his own line.
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
Whoever drafts Zegras will need to be patient with him. He’s committed to Boston University and he’ll need some time there, as having Hughes and Turcotte as teammates has not been optimal for his growth as a center. That said, I’m very confident Zegras should develop into one of the best players in the 2019 draft.
Prospect Profile
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 168 pounds
Teams: USNTDP (USDP and USHL); Committed to Boston University in 2019-20
Country: USA
Position: Center/Wing
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: March 20, 2001
All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.
10
Strengths
Outside of Hughes, Zegras is the best passer in the 2019 draft. His creativity is off the charts, as he loves to set up his teammates for scoring chances. Zegras excels at making cross-crease and cross-ice passes, which is quite impressive for his age.
His versatility is an asset as well. Zegras is as comfortable at wing as he is at center. I’m curious how he would do with a non-elite center, as playing with Hughes and Turcotte undeniably inflated his numbers at wing a bit. Zegras’ tools should suit him well at either position.
One of his best tools is his elusiveness. Zegras is extremely good at avoiding hits. His speed is merely above-average, but I like his acceleration and his quickness. Zegras has exceptional edge-work too. His hockey IQ is sky-high and it’s why I’m so high on him.
My favorite thing about him is his two-way play. Zegras isn’t big, and likely never will be. However, he has a very active stick on the forecheck and in the defensive zone. Zegras hounds the puck like a dog defends its favorite chew toy. Considering how small he is, I’m amazed how fearless he is when challenging bigger players.
Zegras has a unique skill – agitation. He has shown the potential to really get under his opponents’ skin. Zegras could become the next great skilled agitator. He reminds me a bit of Brad Marchand in that regard. When he shoots the puck, he’s got a nice shot. I think it should develop into a very nice secondary weapon for Zegras.
Weaknesses
My primary concern with Zegras is his impressive refusal to shoot the puck. Of course, you can work around this (see: Joe Thornton). But Zegras better be an elite passer to make it work in the NHL. Now, I’m a huge fan of his passing. However, expecting Zegras to be as good as Thornton is asinine, as Thornton’s an all-time great.
Zegras needs to take charge a little bit more. He tends to overpass it. And frankly, I can’t blame him – Zegras does his best work when he sets up scoring chances for his teammates. But if he took the puck to the net more, he’d be even more dangerous.
Another big concern I have is his maturity. Zegras needs to learn how to tiptoe the lines of the rules to reach his true ceiling. He’s undisciplined right now and needs to be better. There’s no reason to think Zegras won’t get significant playing time at Boston University, so I’m optimistic he’ll improve there.
I’d like to see him fill out his frame. 180 pounds should be reasonable. Zegras doesn’t have the skating tools necessary to be like Johnny Gaudreau, so he’ll need to add some muscle to his frame to stand out as an NHL player.
What They’re Saying
"It’s not just that he sees the options, it’s also the fact his timing is elite in terms of when to execute plays, and he has the high-end skill to feather pucks into the right spots. – Corey Pronman from The Athletic"
"Zegras has this uncanny ability to find small seams in the offensive zone with precision and pace and it means that everyone who plays with him (forwards and defencemen) have to be ready to receive a pass or moving to get open. – Scott Wheeler from The Athletic"
Highlights
Overall Outlook
Zegras should be an NHL player. He’s got the tools to be an effective top-nine forward. I think Zegras has the potential to be a top-line forward, but he’s going to have to be an at least effective goal scorer. He has the physical tools necessary to pull it off, but he needs to go to the net more. Whether his future is at center or wing, Zegras has the skills and the fearlessness needed to stick in the NHL.