Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee on Dec. 4 in one of the more awkward-looking injury sequences one will see.
Defending after a draw, Zegras’ left skate got tied up with Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson’s right skate, causing it to come out from under him. Unexpected added weight was applied to his right skate, buckling his knee and ultimately tearing his meniscus.
Heading into their Dec. 4 game against Vegas, the Ducks were 10-10-3, the last time they had sported a .500 record.
After roughly a week’s worth of second opinions, Zegras underwent successful surgery on Dec. 12. He was given an estimated recovery time of six weeks, a positive outcome for how devastating the injury appeared at the time.
On Dec. 31, less than three weeks into recovery, Zegras was skating, and one week later, on Jan. 6, he was a full practice participant.
Trevor Zegras skating this morning in Anaheim. The @AnaheimDucks forward was placed on the injured list on 12/7 after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus. Return time was estimated at six weeks. He’s a little over three weeks in. pic.twitter.com/7WtEvvzkNE
— Matt Loughlin (@MattLoug) December 31, 2024
A six-week recovery time places his estimated return date as Jan. 23, when the Ducks will host the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is not with the team on their current six-game road trip.
Zegras wasn’t having a stellar year from a production standpoint at the time of his injury. Heading into the game against Vegas on Dec. 4, he had only tallied 10 points in 23 games. Part of that could be attributed to line-shuffling and positional inconsistency (back and forth from wing to center) early in the season as Ducks head coach Greg Cronin attempted to find working combinations early in the year.
Part of the lack of early production could be attributed to the simplicity of bounces not going his way. Zegras had made a concerted effort since the start of the 2023-24 season to commit to developing his 200-foot game. He had accomplished that goal, as he was consistently breaking up opposing chances and presented himself as a menace on the forecheck. Despite his defensive dedication, he was still generating offensive opportunities consistently and relatively highly.
Indications Suggest the Ducks are Satisfied with Zegras’ Progress
“One hundred percent,” Zegras said when asked if his attention to detail and physical play was an area of focus this season. “I mean, I watch a lot of hockey, and I feel like if you want to be a part of a winning team, you gotta do all the small things right all the time. Something that I never was, as a centerman, (a) physical, puck on stick (player), and I think when (Cronin) was hired, (his goal) was to teach me the defensive side of the game.
“Not that it hadn’t sunk in until now, but I’m learning. I’m learning the position a little bit more. We have so many young guys in here, and it’s cool to learn the position and the flow of the game with everybody, so it’s been good.”
In the 23 games before his injury, the Ducks were generating 2.49 expected goals per 60 minutes at 5v5. Their power play percentage was converting at a 12.7% (nine for 71) rate. Not impressive metrics by any means, but positive signs were apparent and his production was picking up as he’d scored seven points in his last eight games before injury.
In the 19 games since, the Ducks have an 8-9-2 record and have generated 2.24 expected goals per 60 minutes at 5v5. Their powerplay has dried up further having converted at just a 9.6% rate (five for 52).
“Part of it is not having Zegras in our lineup. He’s great on the power play,” Ducks forward Alex Killorn said of the struggling power play. “We’ve got to find ways to score, whether it’s just getting more shots from the top, which can create more. It can’t be a momentum-killer for us.”
Not all of those poor metrics can be attributed to Zegras’ absence, but his presence certainly raises the tide for his teammates.
The Ducks are three games into their season-long six-game road trip and, along with Zegras, have been without the services of Troy Terry, who has been out of the lineup for four games following the birth of his second child.
Terry will make his return to the Ducks’ lineup tonight against the Washington Capitals.
The Ducks will have several options for line combinations when he eventually returns. They’ve seemingly found successful tandems with Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier as well as with Alex Killorn and Leo Carlsson. A natural fit can be found for Zegras on either of those lines.
The Ducks have struggled to produce consistent offense since the start of the 2024-25 season. If Zegras can maintain his post-injury production and couple it with his newfound 200-foot identity, his reinsertion on the depth chart will likely provide a much-needed spark to the team’s 5v5 and power play offense.
