The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Egor Zamula from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for winger Philip Tomasino, both players having cleared waivers prior to the trade. They are set to report to their respective AHL affiliates to continue their development.
Zamula, 25, has been a focal point in trade rumors since the season began, initially linked to the Calgary Flames but ultimately landing in Pittsburgh after becoming a healthy scratch for the Flyers this season. His season took a downturn after sitting out for six consecutive games in December, leading to his placement on waivers when he was surpassed on the depth chart by AHL call-up Ty Murchison.
During his brief stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Zamula contributed with two assists and recorded a -3 rating over three games. Recent reports suggested that he was considering terminating his contract to pursue opportunities with another team at a lower cap hit to increase his chances of returning to the NHL. However, this trade allows him the fresh start he sought without sacrificing his remaining $1.4 million base salary.
Having spent his entire professional career in the Flyers organization after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Zamula has logged 168 appearances, scoring eight goals and 41 points, and averaging just under 16 minutes on ice per game. Although he has not played a physically dominant style, his size and offensive potential have intrigued teams. He previously achieved a career-high 22 points in a single season two years ago. The Penguins are expected to integrate him into their lineup as he may become a third-pairing option with power-play potential.
On the other hand, Tomasino, the 24th overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft, has had an up-and-down tenure in Pittsburgh since being acquired from the Nashville Predators last season. Despite showing promise early on, Tomasino’s role diminished this season as he averaged only 12:10 of ice time and managed just one assist in nine games before being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In the AHL, he has performed much better, achieving 15 points in 14 games with a +12 rating.
For the Flyers, the acquisition of Tomasino adds much-needed wing depth following the season-ending injury to Tyson Foerster. He could potentially slot into a top-six role for a team that is currently struggling offensively, averaging just 2.77 goals per game.
Both players entering the trade are pending restricted free agents with Zamula carrying a cap hit of $1.7 million and Tomasino at $1.75 million. However, their AHL assignments will lessen the burden on both teams’ salary caps—for Zamula, it will only count $550,000 against the Penguins’ cap, while Tomasino will carry a $600,000 cap hit for the Flyers.
This trade signifies an opportunity for both Zamula and Tomasino to revitalize their careers, showcasing the Penguins’ continued efforts to pick up players in need of a fresh start and the Flyers’ strategy to bolster their lineup potentially for a push later in the season. As both players acclimate to their new environments, there remains a significant possibility for growth and improvement, benefiting their respective teams.