Trevor Zegras’ holdout is over as the sensational forward signed a three-year contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks Monday.

The 22-year-old’s new deal, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, will pay him $5.75-million per year. Zegras matched a career-high in goals with 22 last year while totalling 65 points in 81 games.

Drafted by the Ducks ninth overall in 2019 winning the Calder Trophy in his first season with the team in 2020-21, he’s one of hockey’s emerging young stars. His offensive gifts are apparent scoring gorgeous goals seemingly at will, but his game as a whole still needs to round out — no surprise, as that’s the case for a lot of young centre icemen that come through the league.

Zegras was one of the last remaining holdouts as pre-season’s gotten underway in recent weeks. His teammate, defenceman Jamie Drysdale, is still without a contact, as are Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto, and another rearguard in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Tim Berni.

In seven career games against the Oilers, Zegras has yet to make that much of an impact scoring one goal and three points in seven games so far. Despite that, his scoring rates against Pacific Division teams are the best against any in the league notching .92 points per game — up from his .77 career average. Zegras’ .43 points per game are his fourth lowest rate against a foe.

Nonetheless, he’s well on the path to being one of the NHL’s best offensive talents, so the Oilers surely can’t take him lightly.

From the Calgary Flames’ doghouse to flanking Alexander Ovechkin, things must be feeling good for Matthew Phillips.

The undersized, yet offensively-electric winger, drafted by the Flames in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, has done nothing but put up points in the AHL since he broke in there with the Flames’ AHL affiliate. But despite scoring 103 goals and 237 points in 265 minor league games, the 5’8 winger played all of three NHL games with Calgary over that time.

It led to a large portion of their fan base to question the Flames’ decision, as it was clear the 25-year-old — at the very least — deserved an honest shot at impacting the roster. Yet, under the organizations’ old tutelage of Brad Treliving and Darryl Sutter, he was never afforded that chance.

Flames fans were optimistic that Phillips, who entered unrestricted free agency after last season, would re-sign with the club, but he opted to do anything but. Instead, he inked a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals at a scant $775,000.

He’s drawn in for two pre-season games thus far scoring a goal and an assist for the team, and on Monday skated on the club’s top line.

 

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.