It's hilarious this whole thing. Just yesterday when I opened up my browser was a 'suggested for you' story about how this would be the perfect time for Montreal to trade for Zegras. Absolutely perfect as they could steal him for next to nothing...
No mention at all about what the Ducks might want in return. Of course zero mention at all as to 'why' the Ducks would be willing to sell for a couple of pennies on the dollar. Just 'this is the greatest idea EVER...'
Earlier it was generally assumed that 'if' the Ducks were going to trade Zegras (and there was never ANY indication from the team that they wanted to, only that other teams had called about him), the cost to acquire him would be painful. Very little has changed since then. Unless he does a Slapshotesque striptease out on center ice & screams "I QUIT!!!" then you aren't getting him for a bag of used practice pucks.
Is he in a slump...oh yeah. Of course the whole team is at this moment. Nobody is scoring much of anything but empty nets. If it wasn't for Dostal standing on his head again & again, they'd once again be one of the worst teams in the league. More & more it's looking like the culprit is a coach that won't let the players play to their strengths, but rather demand that they play 'his' way...and his way doesn't work. Unless GMPV fears that 'his' job is on the line (it probably isn't, Cronin otoh...), he won't be making give away a player trade just to show that he's doing 'something'.
So, is he available? Sure, the way most any player in the league is. However the price will most likely be something that will cause the other team to say "We aren't going to pay 'that'..." (followed by lots & lots of stats cherry picked to show Z at his worst & with zero context that might explain said stats)
