Ducks’ Trevor Zegras exits game vs. Predators with lower-body injury, will not return

The Anaheim Ducks announced on social media that forward Trevor Zegras, who left Tuesday’s game vs. the Nashville Predators with a lower-body injury, would not return.

During the first period of their game, Zegras got tangled up with Predators’ forward Juuso Parssinen and fell awkwardly into the boards. He would need help off the ice and required the assistance of trainers to get to the locker room.

It’s been a bit of a slow start for the 2019 No. 9 overall pick, scoring only four goals and three assists for seven points in 19 games in 2023-24. The 22-year-old Zegras already missed 20 games through November and most of December, being placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

Tuesday’s injury coincides with news from earlier in the day that Zegras’ name has come up in trade conversations around the league. After the Ducks made a big splash on Monday in acquiring 2022 No. 5 overall pick Cutter Gauthier from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick, more changes could be coming to Orange County.

The Ducks are 13-25-1 with 27 points in 39 games heading into Tuesday’s game vs. the Predators. They’re 3-6-1 in their last 10 and have lost five straight. For a team that had an auspicious start to the season, going 7-4-0 and winning six straight at one point, the Ducks has fallen back to Earth.

Forward Frank Vatrano leads the team in points with 28 (18 goals and 10 assists) while 20-year-old Mason McTavish is second with 26 points (11 goals and 15 assists). Goaltender John Gibson has a 7-16-0 record with a .903 SV% and a 2.97 GAA.

After Tuesday’s game, the Ducks travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, then head to Florida for two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers on Saturday and Monday, respectively.