Oilers insider reveals another top prospect has landed on trade block

Selected 34th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL draft, Zellweger has been considered one of the Ducks top up and coming prospects, especially after a strong performance for Team Canada in the 2022 World Juniors - but the Ducks don't see a path for playing time with him.

Stauffer joined TSN 1200 Radio this morning to share the report the Ducks are looking to move on from the Calgary native, possibly due to concerns about him being a smaller blueliner.

While it's interesting this report is coming from an Oilers insider in Bob Stauffer, Edmonton probably has very little interest in acquiring the player. Perhaps there's a fit with his hometown Flames taking a chance on a younger and smaller player.

Zellweger has actually been relatively successful in pro hockey despite concerns about his size. In 62 games with the Ducks last season Zellweger scored 20 points - and more impressively had a +1 rating on a terrible team. In the AHL the year prior, he notched a very impressive 37 points in 44 games.

Unfortunately, there's just been very few cases of undersized defenceman having success in the playoffs in recent years. While there's still plenty of tenacious smaller forwards, smaller defenceman just get pushed around and beat up too much in the postseason.

Hopefully Zellweger finds a new opportunity elsewhere in the NHL, and can carve out a successful career against the odds.