Zegras hopeful he'll sign contract with Ducks soon

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Trevor Zegras is hopeful that he'll have a new contract soon and return to Southern California before the Anaheim Ducks open training camp next month.

A restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract, Zegras led the Ducks with 65 points (23 goals, 42 assists) in 81 games last season.

"It's kind of out of my control," the 22-year-old forward said before participating in the Shoulder Check Showcase benefitting the HT40 Foundation on Thursday. "Obviously, this is why you have people in place to handle this type of stuff. In the summertime I just have to keep doing my thing, what I've always done, and that stuff should take care of itself."

The Ducks signed Troy Terry to a seven-year contract Wednesday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing with the forward.

Zegras doesn't have the same arbitration rights as Terry, who is 25 and was coming off his second NHL contract. But Zegras hopes that the signing of Terry means he's next in line. Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale is also a restricted free agent.

Zegras said he won't return to Anaheim until he has a new contract.

"I feel like it's all kind of up in the air," Zegras said. "Obviously, I'd love to get back to play as my teammates get back but that's kind of out of my control at the moment. I've got a pretty good setup here in terms of working out and skating. Wherever we are with the contract, I know I'll be doing good stuff to help me get ready for the season."

Zegras said he's spending the summer in Stamford, renting a place and working out regularly at Prentiss Hockey Performance with several other NHL players. New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider has been Zegras' training partner all summer.

"He kind of kicks my butt in the gym a little bit," Zegras said. "There's a couple things I beat him on that get me pretty excited and I have no problem rubbing it in when I do. But it's been good. After the workouts we'll go down to the shooting room, and I'll teach him out to stick-handle and he'll teach me how to tip pucks. It's been a good little dynamic we've got going."

Kreider, who is 10 years older than Zegras, said he's been impressed with the young forward's work ethic and preparation in the gym.

"He's highly motivated," Kreider said. "You forget how young he is. He's very young, but he's getting after it in the gym. He's getting stronger. He's improving. He's very dialed in with his preparation with the things that he does that make him the kind of player he is. It's interesting to see.

"Obviously, he makes me feel very old some days. He's got a ton of energy. I tell him he was born caffeinated. He's bouncing off the walls. But it's a lot of fun being around that kind of energy and picking his brain, seeing the stuff he does on a daily basis. It's refreshing."

Zegras also said he's met with new Ducks coach Greg Cronin on multiple occasions.

Cronin was hired June 5. The 60-year-old is getting his first opportunity as an NHL coach after 12 seasons as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders.

"He came down to Connecticut to see me, which is pretty cool," Zegras said. "Awesome guy. Very intense. Very passionate about the game. He thinks that there's a lot of things that he can change about me to make me a better player. As somebody who wants to learn and get better it's very exciting for somebody like that to come in with such a strong presence and main focus and idea. I'm very excited that I get to play for him."

Zegras said he and Cronin spent most of their time discussing improvements that the forward needs to make.

"He thinks that defensive side can be a lot better, which I agree with," Zegras said. "And he thinks it's more of just learning how to play defense. You get to a certain level, the effort is always going to be there, but it's the little stuff that he can teach me in the [defensive] zone that could potentially change the way I play 200 feet. It's exciting. He's got a clear passion for it. I'm ready to go."

First, though, he needs to sign a new contract and get to Anaheim for training camp.

"Hopefully we get something done soon," Zegras said. "I do miss California and my teammates, so it would be nice to get back there."