It’s time for another round of NHL Rumours. As the 2025-26 season progresses, and teams take more action to secure players long-term, one team that has already been active is the Philadelphia Flyers. One contract extension for a pending free agent with the Flyers was completed on Monday. Now they may be turning their attention to another. Remember that all NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours and Flyers In Extension Talks with Skilled Forward
Rumour: The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta said on the January 7th edition of First Shift that the Flyers and Trevor Zegras have gone back and forth, and that he anticipates those conversations escalating in the second half of the season.
Analysis: Christian Dvorak was set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. His contributions to the team including being a veteran centre, and that includes nine goals and 26 points in 42 games. In a thin centre market, this already proved valuable, and the Flyers signed Dvorak to a five-year extension.
Pagnotta is really trageting in on the negotiations. As he suggested about the contract talks over Zegras, “They’ve already gone back and forth a few times and I do anticipate those conversations escalating in the second half of the season.”
Zegras, acquired by the Flyers in the offseason, has delivered this season. With 17 goals and 41 points in 43 games, and it appears he will be next in line for a new contract. In addition, he is just six goals away from matching his career high, and on pace to set a new career high in points.
Prior to Tuesday’s game against Anaheim, GM Danny Briere said that there haven’t been any discussions as of yet between the Flyers and Zegras, but expressed his interest in keeping the 24-year-old forward around for the long term.
Zegras echoed those sentiments in the wake of Dvorak’s contract extension. “This is home for me. I love being here. These guys are amazing. I’m having a blast.”
While the Flyers say there haven’t been discussions, the report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period says differently.
What It Means
It makes sense for the Flyers to explore an extension. At 24, Zegras appears to have revitalized his career in Philadelphia as he enters his prime years. Moreover, Zegras has already endeared himself to the fan base. He is a creative mind and skillful player that the Flyers have longed for, with a tremendous personality to go with it.
Zegras is currently in the final year of a three-year deal with a $5.75 million average annual value. The contract negotiations were infamous, with Zegras holding out of training camp at the start of the 2023-24 season. Zegras signed on October 2, 2023.
The first two seasons of that contract, his final two in Anaheim, were part of the reason he was available in a trade for Philadelphia. Zegras played a combined 88 games with 18 goals and 47 points in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
With the turnaround he’s had already in Philadelphia, it’s obvious Zegras factors into the Flyers’ future. In any sense, both sides have clearly expressed mutual interest in making it happen. The timing and price tag for Zegras are what are still to be determined.
Main Photo: Jeff Curry – Imagn Images