Besides making an immediate impact with the Anaheim Ducks during his rookie season, Trevor Zegras provided plenty of excitement while making a case to win the Calder Trophy voted as the NHL rookie of the year. The forward scored the fourth lacrosse-style goal in NHL history in a 5-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Jan. 27, 2022 when he skated from the right wing boards behind the net, lifted the puck onto his stick and stuffed it past the right shoulder of Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault to give the Ducks a 4-1 lead 1:25 into the second period.
"I looked to see if I could make a play to somebody in the slot, and once I realized that I had a little bit of space I figured I'd just try it," Zegras said. "So, I don't know, kind of lucky."
Besides making an immediate impact with the Anaheim Ducks during his rookie season, Trevor Zegras provided plenty of excitement while making a case to win the Calder Trophy voted as the NHL rookie of the year. The forward scored the fourth lacrosse-style goal in NHL history in a 5-4 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Jan. 27, 2022 when he skated from the right wing boards behind the net, lifted the puck onto his stick and stuffed it past the right shoulder of Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault to give the Ducks a 4-1 lead 1:25 into the second period.
"I looked to see if I could make a play to somebody in the slot, and once I realized that I had a little bit of space I figured I'd just try it," Zegras said. "So, I don't know, kind of lucky."
It was the second time during the 2021-22 season Zegras was involved with a lacrosse-style goal. He assisted on a goal scored by Sonny Milano against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 7. Creating excitement is nothing new for the No. 9 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. He helped the United States win the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship with a tournament-best 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in seven games, the second most scored by a United States player in one tournament (Doug Weight, 19 points in 1991). Combined with the nine points, all assists, he had in five games at the 2020 tournament, Zegras' 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 12 games are tied with Jordan Schroeder for most by a United States player.
Born in Bedford, New York, Zegras began skating at 3-years-old and played in the Rising Stars youth program. He grew up a fan of the New York Rangers and emulated Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, playing bantam major hockey with the Mid Fairfield Rangers before joining the Avon Old Farms school's Winged Beavers of the Founders League. He made the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as a sophomore and scored 59 points (20 goals, 39 assists). After a strong 2018-19 season, Zegras was drafted by the Ducks and played the 2019-20 season for Boston University, where he scored 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) and was named a finalist for Hockey East Rookie of the Year.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Hockey East All-Rookie Team (2020)
- NHL All-Rookie Team (2022)
