Ducks forward Trevor Zegras will miss approximately six weeks of action due to a torn meniscus sustained in a Dec. 4 loss to Vegas, the club announced Thursday.

On one hand, his diagnosis was on the lighter end in terms of potential severity, but on the other, there is a deepening trend of injuries to a young player recently considered a cornerstone.

Zegras, 23, led the team in points in 2022-23, his second straight season pacing the Ducks in assists. It was a promising start to the career of 2019’s ninth overall draft pick, and one that made him one of the faces of the NHL.

Entering the 2023-24 season, Zegras began training camp without a contract and ultimately signed a three-year, $17.25 million extension well into the preseason. The term of his deal didn’t quite signify a full commitment from player nor team, and in the two campaigns since Zegras has been hampered by injuries.

Last season, Zegras developed a groin injury that he attempted to play through before ultimately missing a month and a half. He returned to notch three goals and five points in seven games before breaking his ankle in Nashville.

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In all, Zegras missed 51 games after appearing in 154 of a possible 162 contests in two prior campaigns.

This year, Zegras played both wing and center while occupying a prominent role on the power play. Though his 10 points in 24 games underwhelmed on a team pressed for offense, his commitment to his all-around game was more apparent while his playful exuberance remained present.

The Ducks got another creative young star and recent lottery pick, Leo Carlsson, back on the ice in Wednesday’s 5-1 slaughtering by the Ottawa Senators. The Ducks entered their game in Toronto on Thursday tied for the fewest goals in the NHL.