Confirmed with Link: Sabres Sign Jason Zucker, 1 year, $5M AAV

[Aladyyn]

When they come with 70 goals against…not buffalo.

Maybe he’ll actually put in some effort on his new team, having to earn a new contract.

Funny narrative when the Sabres are a cool +42 over the 4 seasons with Skinner in our top 6. But we don't let facts get in the way

 

[toddkaz]

I don't mind 1 year deals with older players.

Maybe they put together a solid season, maybe they are tradable for assets at the deadline of we are out of the playoffs, maybe they help us get to the playoffs and worst case scenario is they suck and are gone next year.

The risk vs reward is pretty good.

 

[Diaspora]

I could see Zucker easily filling in on the top 6 when necessary

He's there if Benson can't cut it.

 

[Matt Ress]

Could have just waited and bought out Skinner later, instead of using Cap Space for such a move.

I agree but someone mentioned maybe Skinner wanted out or something gray like he would be bottom 6er or press box duty and both sides decided it was a good time to move along. Another year would be better for the cap but not wanting to be here can be cancerous.

 

[Diaspora]

I agree but someone mentioned maybe Skinner wanted out or something gray like he would be bottom 6er or press box duty and both sides decided it was a good time to move along. Another year would be better for the cap but not wanting to be here can be cancerous.

Not that different for the cap - an extra 400K per year, $2.4M in 2030. Not worth him floating around like a turd in a punchbowl.

 

[Matt Ress]

QUOTE="Diaspora, post: 196312768, member: 328675"]
Not that different for the cap - an extra 400K per year, $2.4M in 2030. Not worth him floating around like a turd in a punchbowl.
[/QUOTE]
Ah. Haven't looked at it in a while but I thought I remembered next summer being the sweet spot

 

[Diaspora]

Ah. Haven't looked at it in a while but I thought I remembered next summer being the sweet spot

You're not wrong. It would be better.

But an unhappy Skinner would completely wreck the joint, so it's better to rip off the band-aid now.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

Funny narrative when the Sabres are a cool +42 over the 4 seasons with Skinner in our top 6. But we don't let facts get in the way

What are the stats for last year?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

There is just zero evidence of that in the last three years in Buffalo. He's been a positive five on five, just not worth $9 M and most of the contract was a sunk cost.

There is plenty of evidence. You’ll just call it fake news because you don’t like what the evidence says.

Funny narrative when the Sabres are a cool +42 over the 4 seasons with Skinner in our top 6. But we don't let facts get in the way

What’s funny is pointing to a plus minus stat in 2024.

 

[RWatson29]

Says a lot of his best qualities are what we kind of touched on yesterday. Said he wants to be a hard forechecker and get pucks back for the skill guys.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

There is plenty of evidence. You’ll just call it fake news because you don’t like what the evidence says.


What’s funny is pointing to a plus minus stat in 2024.

His advanced five-on-five stats are just not terrible. Sure, his possession stats don't blow you away. Yeah, they are not worth the $9 M. No argument there. But there is so much focus on the $9 M when really it should be what we can do with the difference, factoring in the major cap penalty for three years. (It also looks like Pegula won't spend to the cap again but we'll see. Still hard to say. But if we are $10 M under cap, that's another wrinkle to this debate.)

 

[Digable5]

I'm guilty of it as well, but I feel that it is unfair to Zucker to compare him to Skinner; especially straight production. Aside from injuries or a complete roster collapse, Zucker will not see 1st line or PP1 minutes.

IMO, Zucker has been brought in to provide speed and some offensive fire power from the 3rd line with flexibility to move up in the lineup as situations occur. Adams spoke of speed being a way to be "tougher to play against" and that is one of Zucker's strengths.

Obviously we need to replace Skinner's offensive output and its hard to see where that will come from on the current roster, but that should not be expected of Zucker. If they don't find a new top 6F for this role, its got to come from the core returning to form or a breakout candidate like Quinn, Benson, Savoie, Kulich, etc...

 

[Dubi Doo]

Says a lot of his best qualities are what we kind of touched on yesterday. Said he wants to be a hard forechecker and get pucks back for the skill guys.

Been saying it all along. Give me someone who is physical and gets to the net. Zucker brings that.

 

[Aladyyn]

What are the stats for last year?

+9

There is plenty of evidence. You’ll just call it fake news because you don’t like what the evidence says.


What’s funny is pointing to a plus minus stat in 2024.

How dare I bring up facts into the conversation, silly me

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

+9


How dare I bring up facts into the conversation, silly me

Evidence based on a $9 M salary is irrelevant. That's the discussion point. His salary was mostly a sunk cost, with the cap only decently recoverable in 2024-25. I would say 100%, we can get a better player in 2024-25 with the cap savings. (Not sure we did with Zucker. LOL). Justifying in 2025-26 and 2026-27, going to be tough.

 

[K8fool]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/jason-zucker-fits-right-in-with-predators-on-and-off-the-ice

 

[Fjordy]

 

[Gras]

 

[Fjordy]

I like that he can scratch pucks in the corners, be around the net and complement skill players, and he plays with some grit. Seems like a good veteran signing.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

How dare I bring up facts into the conversation, silly me

Using one single stat tells you absolutely nothing about a player.

I've watched Skinner for years and have a lot more to judge him by than his plus/minus. No statistician will tell you otherwise.

 

[Panthaz89]

+9


How dare I bring up facts into the conversation, silly me

I mean if we are going by this we have more arguments for keeping Joker the team leader in +/- last year. I feel like watching Skinner you see why he's generally taking away from the team on the PP and even at even strength he's trying to go through several guys and it kills offense for his linemates which he never seems to make his teammates better.

 

[toddkaz]

When I see Zucker and Reimer signed it reminds me of the movie Major League.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[MOGlLNY]

It’s also the money but that’s okay. From videos I’ve seen Zucker has really seemingly brought a good energy to the team and as long as he’s somewhat up to his contract value I’ll be good with him on our team.

 

[Dingo44]

It’s also the money but that’s okay. From videos I’ve seen Zucker has really seemingly brought a good energy to the team and as long as he’s somewhat up to his contract value I’ll be good with him on our team.

I wouldn't be surprised if Adams checked in with Tuch on Zucker before getting in touch with his agent.