The NHL off-season has been full of surprises, but none quite as intriguing as Trevor Zegras’s move to the Philadelphia Flyers—and the jaw-dropping comments he made shortly after.

While most eyes are on the blockbuster trades and rising stars, Zegras has managed to steal the spotlight with a single, unexpected statement that’s set the hockey world abuzz.

In a candid interview, the young forward didn’t just share his excitement about joining the Flyers; he dropped a bombshell about who he believes is the best hockey player of all time.

The answer wasn’t the usual suspects like Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby, but someone few would have guessed—and it’s already sparking heated debates among fans and analysts.

What led Zegras to this controversial opinion, and how does it reflect his own unique style of play? With his recent struggles and the pressure to perform alongside new teammates, could this bold declaration be a sign of renewed confidence or simply a personal bias?

As the dust settles on his trade and the new season approaches, one thing is clear: Zegras’s perspective is turning heads, and the full story behind his praise is something every hockey fan will want to uncover.

Trevor Zegras with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Photo credit: ABC7

Trevor Zegras was traded to Philadelphia this summer, and he’s seemingly thankful as he no longer has to play Quinn Hughes, who he paid huge respect to.

This off-season has been rather quiet around the National Hockey League, but there have been some big moves made, with one of the most surprising being the trade that saw Trevor Zegras acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The move sent one of the most talented players in the NHL to a team with another budding star in Matvei Michkov, but after Zegras struggled over the past two years, he’ll need to do some major work to build back up his confidence.

Trevor Zegras Shares Major Praise for Quinn Hughes, Despite Connor McDavid’s Excellence

During a recent interview with ESPN, Zegras addressed the move to Philadelphia, noting that there’s one thing in the West especially that he won’t miss.

I never want to play Quinn again. He’s the best hockey player of all-time.

That comment was towards Canucks captain Quinn Hughes after Zegras addressed moving to a division with his two brothers, but unfortunately for Zegras, there’s still some incredible players in the Metropolitan Division that are going to give him headaches.

Despite this being an opinion, there are some that look to the likes of Connor McDavid as the best player in NHL history, but given how different players look at things, it’s no surprise to see Zegras hold a different opinion.

Zegras notably played in McDavid’s division as well.

Many NHLers may refer to Sidney Crosby, Artemi Panarin, Alex Ovechkin, Sebastian Aho and more as their ‘best player’, but Zegras’ unique shifty style may lead him to lean more on Quinn Hughes’ similar tactics — his time playing with him in the US National Team Development Program certainly didn’t hurt.

Is Trevor Zegras crazy for praising Quinn Hughes like this, or is McDavid not as untouchable as many think?