Zegras is pissed at his coach, he won't play tonight
Rookie phenom Trevor Zegras skated thursday morning for the first time since he was cleared to exit the NHL's Covid Protocol and then was pissed at his coach as he learned he wasn't in the lineup for tonight's contest vs the Red Wings.
«I don't usually share in-my-office conversations, but I just had one about 20 minutes ago and my man �Z' is not very happy with me right now,» Eakins said, using Zegras' nickname. «He is dying to play. His first time on the ice was this morning and I don't even know if it was a 15-minute skate. - Dallas Eakins
«We've got to think of our team first. I have no doubt �Z' could come in and play. The thing that worries me is that we've been without him for over a week and I think the percentages of him getting hurt with a groin, a back, a hip-flexor, are super high right now coming into a game like this.
«We don't want to lose him for an extended period of time.»
Coach Eakins will be denying a head-to-head matchup with fellow Calder trophy candidate Lucas Raymond. This is probably the main reason Zegras is pissed at his coach.
«I want to protect the player,» Eakins said of Zegras. «This kid is having a really solid year. He's a very important piece to our team. I want to do what's right by him, as well. It's kind of like being a parent. As a parent, I try not to have any head-shaking moments, where it's like, �What were you thinking?'
