Trevor Zegras has brought more than points to the Philadelphia Flyers’ room. In a season that opened with a long skid and a roster heavy on rookies, the 25-year-old forward has become a steady off-ice presence, with Denver Barkey and Porter Martone both living under his roof while they find their footing in the NHL.
A veteran role in a young Flyers room
Philadelphia gave Zegras a four-year contract worth $36.5 million on July 15, carrying a $9.125 million annual cap hit. General manager Daniel Briere made clear at the time that the club wanted more leadership from the skilled forward as he entered his seventh NHL campaign.
That responsibility has grown quickly. The Flyers began the year with five players aged 22 or younger, and six rookies dressed for Monday’s 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Zegras said the young group has made the transition natural.
“There comes a time when you realize you’re one of the older players and a leader,” Zegras said. “They’re young and they have plenty of questions. I can relate to some of what they’re going through because it was not that long ago for me. They’re good people, so it makes it easy.”
From hotel room to townhouse
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Barkey was recalled from Lehigh Valley in December 2025 and initially spent roughly a month in a hotel near Philadelphia’s practice facility in Voorhees, New Jersey.
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Zegras, remembering how unpleasant extended hotel living can be for a young player, urged Barkey to take the spare bedroom in his Philadelphia-area townhouse.
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The arrangement carried into this season, giving Barkey a more stable base while he adjusts to the demands of full-time NHL life.
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Martone began spending so much time at the house during the offseason that Zegras joked the rookie effectively moved in on his own. With an available bed, the 19-year-old has remained there into the opening weeks of the season. Martone turns 20 on Monday.
“He told me I’d always have a place at his house,” Barkey said. “That means a lot from an older player, somebody you admire and watched growing up.”
Barkey said living with Zegras has allowed him to concentrate on hockey rather than the daily adjustments that come with reaching the League. Last season, he produced five goals and 12 assists in 43 regular-season games, then added one goal and one assist in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
After missing Philadelphia’s first three games this season because of a lower-body injury suffered in preseason, Barkey has three assists in eight games. The Flyers visit the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Zegras said the decision was simple: young players need to feel included quickly, especially when they are suddenly pulled out of the American Hockey League and into an NHL schedule.
Advice between shifts and at home
Martone has leaned on Zegras as both a housemate and a veteran voice. The rookie said Zegras has encouraged him to avoid overthinking his game and trust the instincts that brought him to Philadelphia.
“He has told me to just play, be myself and make plays,” Martone said. “He has taken me under his wing and helped me learn how the League works. He has been great to me, a role model and a major leader for our team.”
The Flyers tested that leadership immediately. Philadelphia went winless through its first nine games, posting an 0-6-3 record before earning a 3-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Zegras sealed that victory with an empty-net goal.
Two nights later, he recorded three assists against Colorado, his first three-assist outing in two seasons with the Flyers. Zegras has two goals and five assists in 11 games, matching Matvei Michkov for the club scoring lead. Michkov has six goals and one assist.
Martone said Zegras has helped prevent the room from getting too heavy during the early adversity.
“He’s an upbeat guy who truly cares about the team and enjoys coming to the rink,” Martone said. “A season is going to have difficult stretches. He can lift the mood around the room, and that is valuable.”
Passing along a lesson from Anaheim
Zegras sees the role as a continuation of support he received when he broke into the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks in 2020-21. He pointed to defenseman Josh Manson as one of the players who made a point of looking after him.
Manson said Zegras arrived with significant attention around him but still needed a reliable veteran to approach away from the spotlight. Manson wanted to offer a level-headed sounding board whenever the young forward had a concern or needed advice.
“The NHL is hard for any young player to break into,” Manson said. “Sometimes you need someone you can talk to.”
That is now part of Zegras’ job in Philadelphia. He does not intend to force advice on teammates, but said he is happy to share his experience whenever a younger player asks.
Barkey said Zegras offers help on both sides of the rink door, whether the question is about an NHL shift, a long road trip or simply finding a way to switch off from hockey.
“There aren’t many people in hockey like him,” Barkey said. “You can learn from the way he carries himself every day, his mindset and his attitude. He knows when to help take your mind off the game, and he is there if you need advice about life or hockey.”
