It was a rough evening for the Anaheim Ducks, but not in the way anyone had hoped. In their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Little Caesars Arena, the Ducks suffered a 5-4 overtime loss. The game was marred by controversy, as Ducks forward Trevor Zegras found himself at the center of a heated debate over a questionable hit. The fallout from this incident would only intensify in the hours that followed.
The incident occurred at 17:17 of the second period when Zegras delivered a shoulder-to-head hit on Red Wings center Michael Rasmussen. Rasmussen was slow to get up and did not return to the game due to an undisclosed injury. Despite the forceful nature of the collision, no penalty was called on the play, leaving many fans and analysts divided over the severity of the hit. This uncertainty set the stage for a major decision from the NHL’s disciplinary committee.
Following the game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Trevor Zegras would have a hearing on Monday, February 24, 2025, to review the play. The primary concern is an interference infraction, though the Department of Player Safety retains the right to adjust the classification of the incident upon review. As speculation mounted, many began questioning what this could mean for Zegras’s immediate future on the ice.
Trevor Zegras will have a hearing on Monday with @NHLPlayerSafety for intereference against Michael Rasmussen pic.twitter.com/oaYHXjU082
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 24, 2025
The Ducks, already facing a challenging season, may now have to contend with the absence of Trevor Zegras if disciplinary action is taken. The 23-year-old forward has recorded seven goals and nine assists in 34 games this season, a performance that has not met the high expectations placed on him. With a crucial game against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, February 25, looming, Anaheim is left wondering how they will fill the potential void left by their key forward.
Losing Zegras would not only weaken the Ducks’ offensive lineup but also put more pressure on their struggling power play unit, which ranks near the bottom of the league. The team has already been navigating a season filled with injuries and inconsistent performances, making his possible suspension even more significant. With so much uncertainty surrounding the outcome, fans and analysts alike have been quick to weigh in on the situation.
Fans react to controversial hit by Trevor Zegras
The netizens’ reactions to the incident have been mixed. Some believe Zegras’s hit warrants a multi-game suspension, while others argue that it was an unfortunate but legal play. “That’s cheap,” one supporter bluntly declared. The play has caused plenty of commotion, with fans also voicing frustrations over the Ducks’ overall performance this season. Zegras, who was drafted ninth in 2019 and has played 245 career games while scoring 170 points, is considered one of Anaheim’s leading players. The Ducks cannot afford to lose him for any amount of time, no matter how poorly he has played recently. “3-5 games, he knows it wasn’t clean,” someone in attendance remarked, echoing the sentiment that the hit was problematic.
This isn’t the first time Trevor Zegras has been under scrutiny, but he has never been suspended in his five-year professional career. He has been fined before, and some believe that could change now. Another fan voiced frustration with such plays, saying, “Players just keep on doing this. You suspend them, fine them, send them to jail, and they’re gonna keep on doing it.” Meanwhile, the Ducks must prepare for their upcoming game against the Buffalo Sabres while dealing with the uncertainty surrounding Zegras’s availability. A suspension could derail any prospects for improving their season. “Should have been kicked out of the game,” declared one supporter, highlighting the polarizing nature of the situation. One silver lining for Zegras is that since this would be his first suspension, the NHL may take that into account when determining his punishment. However, with the ongoing debate over player safety intensifying, any ruling in this case could have broader implications for future disciplinary decisions.
As the hockey world waits for the NHL Player Safety’s decision, discussions continue about whether Trevor Zegras’s hit—and its potential effect on Anaheim’s season—warrant significant disciplinary action. “Horrible check. 5 game suspension and 10-year ‘stuck in Anaheim bottom 6’ penalty,” one Anaheim fan quipped, summing up the frustration. Whether the decision results in multiple games missed or simply a fine, the Ducks and their supporters are left speculating on what might have been if their young star had avoided controversy on Sunday evening.
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