I think most people here know I'm a huge Zucker fan, but I am concerned that people have seemingly forgotten about how he played in the 2 seasons before this year.
Either he was injured or his C was injured. The few times he was fit with a fit C, he did good work.
I am concerned about him getting injured again but I'm going to be concerned about any guy playing a physical committed style. His issues don't appear to be chronic and he played through them pretty well at times.
I am concerned about Malkin getting injured again but if we're looking to find players that insulate that, it's not about Bunting or Barbashev or Garland or who ever either. That comes down to going big and getting Elias Lindholm or Clayton Keller. Which I'm down with.
But then you need to squeeze your assets elsewhere.
At which point asking yourself who's going to give you better bang for your buck next year than Zucker at 4.8m seems even more pressing.
Also in the 2 years before last year:
-Rust: 100 points in 116 games
-Zucker: 35 points in 79 games
Even if Rust's NMC wasn't an issue, trading Rust to keep Zucker seems like an absolutely bizarre decision to make. They should get a good offensive winger that meshes with Rust's skillset to play opposite of Malkin. The issue with the 2nd line from last year was that Zucker and Rust don't offer enough offensive creativity to support Malkin.
The only spot that moving Rust to makes sense right now is if you want to move him to L3 to be the line driver for that line. But even then, I'm probably looking for 2 new wingers for Malkin over re-signing Zucker.
Rust was on PP1, Zucker wasn't. Rust doesn't seem likely to go back on PP1 (and Zucker would be a better fit for the net front/bumper role that Rust is best at anyway) so Rust's PP ability is irrelevant.
Take it down to 5v5 and Rust has 50 in 116 and Zucker 27 in 79. Which still skews Rust's way, but then it should, because Rust had Crosby and Zucker had Malkin on one leg and Carter.
As such, I suspect that individual production wise, they're the same guy. Give Zucker Rust's usage and the numbers will swap.
At which point I have to side with Zucker, who has consistently shown high energy, over Rust, who seems to more and more think he's Kessel-lite.
I don't have a problem with Rust staying but he guy he has been the last few seasons isn't worth 5m if he's not on PP1.