Proteau Puts Trevor Zegras at No. 7 on NHL’s Top Pending RFA List

A year after arriving in Philadelphia, Zegras is back in the spotlight as Adam Proteau ranked him among the NHL’s most important restricted free agents heading into the 2026 offseason.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

With the NHL offseason approaching, The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau released a ranking of the league’s top 10 pending restricted free agents, and Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras landed at No. 7.

Proteau’s list frames Zegras as a player whose next contract carries meaningful weight for both his personal market and the Flyers’ roster planning. Zegras enters this offseason with a current cap hit of $5.75 million, and the ranking highlights his production during his first season in Philadelphia, when he totaled 26 goals and 67 points in 81 games.

Zegras’ rise in Philadelphia did not happen in isolation. The Flyers acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks on June 23, 2025, in a trade that sent forward Ryan Poehling, a 2025 first-year selection at No. 45 overall, and the Flyers’ 2026 fourth-round pick to Anaheim. Philadelphia has since positioned him as a key offensive element in its forward group.

The broader ranking also shows how the Zegras situation fits into the league’s youngest high-end talent. Proteau’s top group includes Connor Bedard at No. 1, Leo Carlsson at No. 2, Jason Robertson at No. 3, Pavel Dorofeyev at No. 4, and Cutter Gauthier at No. 5, with Adam Fantilli at No. 6 and Zegras at No. 7 before Jet Greaves and Brandt Clarke round out the top 9, and Mavrik Bourque lands at No. 10.

For the Flyers, the practical issue is straightforward: getting a deal done with a pending restricted free agent who is producing in a top-six role stabilizes the team’s short-term lineup and reduces offseason uncertainty. Proteau’s write-up specifically points to Zegras as “crucial to the squad,” implying that Philadelphia views his role as more than just incremental scoring.

What to watch next is whether Philadelphia and Zegras move quickly toward a long-term agreement, or whether negotiations extend as the Flyers try to balance term, annual value, and overall cap structure. Proteau’s ranking is not a prediction of what the contract will look like, but it does underscore that Zegras is coming off a season that has put his value on the radar across the market, and that makes this a key decision point for Philadelphia’s offseason.

Why It Matters

Restricted free agency decisions can quickly shape a team’s offense and depth, especially when a player is producing in a top role.
Zegras’ market value affects how the Flyers manage their salary structure before and after free agency.
A long-term deal (or lack of one) can influence how the Flyers approach other contract negotiations during the same offseason window.
As one of the league’s more notable pending RFA names, Zegras becomes a reference point for how teams prioritize young scoring talent.

Sources

Key Facts

Adam Proteau ranked the NHL’s top 10 pending restricted free agents heading into the 2026 offseason.
Trevor Zegras of the Philadelphia Flyers was ranked No. 7 on that list.
Proteau lists Zegras with a $5.75 million cap hit on his expiring contract.
In his first season with the Flyers, Zegras posted 26 goals and 67 points in 81 games.
The Flyers acquired Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks on June 23, 2025.
Proteau’s top 10 includes players such as Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Jason Robertson alongside Zegras.