What Does Matty Beniers Know About Trevor Zegras That Others Don't?

To paraphrase an old joke, put three hockey people in a room, and they'll have four opinions about Trevor Zegras.

In a moment, we'll explain the Seattle Kraken connection to Zegras, flashy Anaheim Ducks center who's been linked by trade speculation to every team except Manchester United.

Oh, you're not familiar with Anaheim's 1st round choice in 2019?

"He's not winning the Selke (best defensive forward) anytime soon."
THN editor in chief Ryan Kennedy

"Some players’ offensive output can outweigh deficiencies. Zegras clears that bar."
The Athletic's Max Bultman

"Poll every head coach; not many are going to want Trevor Zegras in their lineup at crunch time in a big game."
THN's Jacob Stoller, on league chatter he's heard

"That may be a bit of a surprise for a guy who was a cover athlete on NHL 23 and has scored some incredible highlight reel goals."
Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravelli, on Anaheim listening to offers

"He went for a cheap shot."
Sharks defenseman Matt Benning, on a spear by Zegras

"Zegras has a big personality to go with a tremendous skill set. His swagger can be construed as cockiness."
Curtis Pashelka, San Jose Mercury-News

“He may be one of the most misunderstood players in our league.”
Then-Ducks coach Dallas Eakins

Oh, there's more. Like when Zegras held out in a contract dispute in 2023, and "changed his Instagram profile picture from him in a Ducks jersey to this image of himself putting on a blindfold mask." ( Hockey Feed )

Kraken Connection

As has been widely reported, Zegras and Kraken center Matty Beniers became close as teammates on the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

They were also teammates on the Team USA squad which won gold at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships.

Now, the self-effacing Beniers and the outsized personality of Zegras would seem to make them a hockey Odd Couple.

At a promotional event for Bauer in the featured photo above, it is a coincidence that Beniers is wearing the white hat, Zegras the black hat?

Yet we have proof of them being pals. At right, a screengrab from a light-hearted "Quarantine" video while preparing for the World Juniors.

At the Bauer event (above photo), Beniers is taking the handoff from Zegras. They also connected on a couple of long completions, as seen in the video below.

Separating Zegras Wheat From Chaff

He's talented. He's misunderstood. He's brash. He doesn't play defense. But boy, that offense.

Could another team preserve Zegras' greatness while correcting his shortcomings? Three informed guys have at least three opinions.

Anaheim Ducks Coach Greg Cronin: "He's a very sociable, likeable kid, bounces around. He's like a butterfly, talks to everyone in the locker room.

"When you draw that attention, you need to convert it into some leadership. But if you sabotage that by foolish penalties or you turn pucks over multiple times, you have to own up to that too.

"There's an opportunity for those people to create an image and a standard for the team and if they don't do it, they're missing out. It's up to him to actually execute that." ( Markerzone )

The Athletic's Bultman: "He’s young, a proven playmaker, signed for two more seasons, and there probably won’t be a better buy-low opportunity on him than right now."

THN's Kennedy: "There's teams that need him, as long as you get the proper buy-in, but it might be a disaster."