Just as Trevor Zegras seemed to be improving as a two-way player for the Anaheim Ducks, he suffered another injury.
The Ducks are hoping that this latest injury won’t be serious enough to slow down Zegras’ strong start to the season.
Zegras left Anaheim’s 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with a lower-body injury on Wednesday night. He was unable to put weight on his injured leg when he left the ice early in the second period.
Ducks coach Greg Cronin didn’t have an update on Zegras after the game, but he mentioned that the forward would undergo more tests on Thursday.
“It’s disappointing,” said Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler. “Seeing any of your guys go down is hard as a teammate. We’re a family in here, so we’re all thinking about each other. ‘Z’ is a big part of the team. Hoping that he’s OK, but any time you see somebody go down, your heart goes out to him.”
It’s unclear how Zegras got injured, but it wasn’t due to a collision. After taking a faceoff in Anaheim’s defensive zone, he spun around and fell awkwardly when his skates and sticks briefly tangled with William Karlsson’s. Zegras immediately waved to the bench and needed help to leave the ice.
Zegras, 23, is known for his puck-handling skills and for scoring lacrosse-style “Michigan” goals, but this might be his third major injury in just over a year. Last season, he was limited to 31 games due to two injuries, including a broken ankle that required surgery.
“Hopefully long-term, he’ll be OK,” Fowler said. He had just returned from his own injury absence on Wednesday.
Zegras had played in all 23 games this season, scoring four goals and recording six assists. More importantly, he had made noticeable progress in improving his defensive game and overall offensive play, after struggling in the past to find consistency as a two-way player.
Zegras was drafted 9th overall in 2019 and has scored 59 goals in 235 games over his five seasons with Anaheim.
Zegras’ injury leaves the Ducks without two of their most talented young offensive players. Leo Carlsson, another promising young player, missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. Earlier on Wednesday, Carlsson was named to Sweden’s team for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
“When you lose any player, it disrupts the flow,” Cronin said. “We’re not giving any different directions whether ‘Z’ is in or out, or whether Leo is in or out. (We) try to play the same way. The simplification is really what we’re trying to follow.”
