He's likely better than anyone available in the late 1st so depends on the prospect. Bigger issue is he's a Matt Duchene/Tommy Novak-type center but not a center and wants to be played in that spot. As a 2nd line winger if we managed to get another center, maybe better shot at success here.
I would certainly be more inclined to go after a Zegras if I saw any signs that our coaching staff or GM were willing to invest the time/opportunity in skilled younger players in ways that might see them maximize their potential. But since we see the Exact Opposite of that... it makes it a lot less interesting to want to pay the acquisition cost for that type of player.
I actually don't see a clear package we would offer that the Ducks would be interested in or wouldn't ultimately be an overpay from our end. His past two years are largely injury-ridden, which the Ducks side will contend explains the dropped production (and I suspect everyone who wants him here thinks the same).
I'll bet Zegras won't fetch nearly that much. Remember a 2022 top-five pick was traded just this season for a B prospect plus a couple of picks. Zegras is a 2019 pick and hasn't done anything in the last two seasons AND he doesn't play a premium position.
I think if he was going for a package that low he already would have been traded. There'd be enough GMs that would ignore the negatives for visions of 65+ points and Michigan goals.
Perhaps. But I remember the initial proposals for Jiricek, too, and he ended up going for A LOT lower than those.
I suppose ultimately they won't want to continue to pay a 0.5ppg-ish guy $5.75M... which will be his QO after next season as an RFA. But maybe they would wait a bit to see if he starts re-justifying that salary again a little more first? It's not like the Ducks are trying to compete or in any Cap trouble meanwhile.
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