The first time Trevor Zegras played against Leon Draisaitl, he tried to make things interesting by proposing a bet before a faceoff. But he wasn’t prepared for what the Oilers superstar would say next.
Trevor Zegras was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in February 2021. He scored his first goal a few games later, quickly becoming a fan favorite in Anaheim. Zegras emerged as one of the league’s brightest young stars, which even earned him a spot as the EA Sports NHL cover athlete in 2023. But Leon Draisaitl didn’t seem too bothered by the Zegras hype.
The first time Zegras faced the Edmonton Oilers, he had the chance to take a faceoff against Draisaitl, one of the NHL’s biggest stars.
Leon Draisaitl’s funny words to Zegras
Zegras decided to spice things up by suggesting they put a wager on the draw.
“I lean into him and say, ‘Dude, like $100 for the first draw,’” Zegras recalled in Spittin’ Chiclets. “And he looks at me and goes, ‘Can you even afford $100, you f—king rookie?’ I was like, ‘Come on, I can’t. That’s why I need to win this draw.’”
To no one’s surprise, Zegras didn’t stand a chance.
“He just snapped it back before I even knew where the puck was—McDavid had it in our zone,” Zegras said.
Zegras has had a rough couple of years but has looked sharper in recent weeks. Trade rumors surrounding him have circulated for years, but they’ve quieted down, and it’s looking more and more unlikely that he’ll be moved anytime soon.
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