Confirmed with Link: Wild Sign Zuccarello 5yrs $6m aav

[TaLoN]

One thing you guys have to realize about Zucc is that he's a team guy. The NMC is probably just his agents protecting him. I'm pretty sure that if he finds out he doesn't mesh with the team, he is more than likely to request a trade I think.

I think Minnesota will be very happy with Zucc. If you've ever followed him closely you know that he's one of the greatest guys you can have in your locker room and just on your team in general. His entire career has been him trying to prove himself as a little guy in a big league (though that's been changing since he's got here). There's a reason why his jersey was #7 on the top list of sold jerseys for ALL teams, just two spots behind Lundqvist.

He's a likable guy and even when he doesn't perform he brings up the game of everyone around him. On the rangers he played with second tier forwards who immediately got boosted by his incredible puck handling and selflessness. If you put him on a line with a guy you know is good, but is struggling to live up to expectations... he'll exceed them with Zucc.

His teammates love him

 

[TaLoN]

 

[TaLoN]

 

[Webster]

Oops...#36 is taken by Seeler, he needs to change that

 

[Jaakarh]

Zucker (27) - Staal (34) - Fiala (22)
Parise (34) - Koivu (36) - Zuccarello (31)
Greenway (22) - Eriksson-Ek (22) - Kunin (21)
Foligno (27) - Sturm (24) - Hartman (24)
Donato (23)
Rask (26)

The 21/22/23 year olds balance out the 30+ guys fine, I think. I'm not sure how the average age compares to last year, but there's more real youth there. If Fenton can scrounge up some young replacements for Staal and Koivu over the next two seasons we're in pretty good shape.

I see this like we precisely lack the players that a winning team should possess: those in their late twenties prime. Zucker is the only one and for some reason he is shown the door too. So what remains is aging vets and unproven youngsters who may turn good or become a bunch of Eriksson-Eks, those who everyone was sure would replace our number 1 center in a short order, but remain year after another fighting to stay in the lineup. There is some hope but don't think the odds are favorable here.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Oops...#36 is taken by Seeler, he needs to change that

I'm sure it could very easily be for sale.

 

[2Pair]

I'm sure it could very easily be for sale.

Seeler or the #?

 

[Machinehead]

Very reasonable deal given how contacts have gone up. Likable player.

 

[2Pair]

I see this like we precisely lack the players that a winning team should possess: those in their late twenties prime. Zucker is the only one and for some reason he is shown the door too. So what remains is aging vets and unproven youngsters who may turn good or become a bunch of Eriksson-Eks, those who everyone was sure would replace our number 1 center in a short order, but remain year after another fighting to stay in the lineup. There is some hope but don't think the odds are favorable here.

You mean like Granlund, Niederreiter, and Coyle? Yeah, been there done that.It didn't work.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Seeler or the #?

The number.

 

[Bazeek]

I see this like we precisely lack the players that a winning team should possess: those in their late twenties prime. Zucker is the only one and for some reason he is shown the door too. So what remains is aging vets and unproven youngsters who may turn good or become a bunch of Eriksson-Eks, those who everyone was sure would replace our number 1 center in a short order, but remain year after another fighting to stay in the lineup. There is some hope but don't think the odds are favorable here.

Did you misspell "no one" as "everyone"?

The core of what Fenton's been doing for the last few months is replacing the older 20's guys he inherited that failed to step up and move this team forward with a younger batch of players that at least has the potential to pick up the load going forward. They're all good players in their own rights, but as a "core" of guys Granlund/Zucker/Coyle/Nino was a dead end. Maybe Fiala/Kunin/Greenway/Donato/(Kaprizov/Boldy) doesn't pan out any better, but there's plenty of potential there.

I'll be surprised if they challenge for a Cup next year, but I guess you never know. The more important thing is to get the team back on the rails, make the playoffs, and see what Fenton's actually cobbled together here. As long as that's being supported by good scouting, drafting and development (and a trade for a center) I think we're doing pretty well.

 

[Jaakarh]

Did you misspell "no one" as "everyone"?

The core of what Fenton's been doing for the last few months is replacing the older 20's guys he inherited that failed to step up and move this team forward with a younger batch of players that at least has the potential to pick up the load going forward. They're all good players in their own rights, but as a "core" of guys Granlund/Zucker/Coyle/Nino was a dead end. Maybe Fiala/Kunin/Greenway/Donato/(Kaprizov/Boldy) doesn't pan out any better, but there's plenty of potential there.

I'll be surprised if they challenge for a Cup next year, but I guess you never know. The more important thing is to get the team back on the rails, make the playoffs, and see what Fenton's actually cobbled together here. As long as that's being supported by good scouting, drafting and development (and a trade for a center) I think we're doing pretty well.

Even though the old core had disappointing playoffs, they were still very competitive for several years in regular seasons and at least I was happy for that. There is just nothing guaranteed in post-seasons and this team could not make it, it happens. I am all right with a rebuild but I cannot get excited about this kind of half-baked effort that is happening here. Kapri might be a star if he comes here, but no one else of these new guys is anything that most of the other teams in the league wouldn't have. They are not top-5 sure thing picks to build a team around. Fenton should have gotten those first rounders for the guys he traded.

 

[a79krgm]

I like the signing, but will the Norwegians be taking over the State of Hockey now? We will need to watch these guys. You know, Fifth Column stuff.

 

[Bazeek]

Even though the old core had disappointing playoffs, they were still very competitive for several years in regular seasons and at least I was happy for that. There is just nothing guaranteed in post-seasons and this team could not make it, it happens. I am all right with a rebuild but I cannot get excited about this kind of half-baked effort that is happening here. Kapri might be a star if he comes here, but no one else of these new guys is anything that most of the other teams in the league wouldn't have. They are not top-5 sure thing picks to build a team around. Fenton should have gotten those first rounders for the guys he traded.

And at this point we're just back to the idea that anything we do that isn't shooting for top-5 picks for a few years == wrong, which doesn't actually have much to do with Zuccarello. I guess I don't get the point of evaluating a specific tactical move in the context of a completely different strategy. I'm kind of tired of every thread turning into the same thread.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I absolutely love watching videos on him. Doesn't seem like a shy player at all considering his small frame. The younger players could learn a thing or two from him.

 

[Webster]

I like the signing, but will the Norwegians be taking over the State of Hockey now? We will need to watch these guys. You know, Fifth Column stuff.

Yeah Zuccarello did this for the Norwegian-American community in Minnesota and Wisconsin, about 1.5 mill people.
And now they're going crazy

 

[TaLoN]

Yeah Zuccarello did this for the Norwegian-American community in Minnesota and Wisconsin, about 1.5 mill people.
And now they're going crazy

It's only natural that he'll be a huge Vikings fan... if he's not one already.

 

[TaLoN]

 

[WildNorway]

I like the signing, but will the Norwegians be taking over the State of Hockey now? We will need to watch these guys. You know, Fifth Column stuff.

Hi there, nice state you got there, would be a real shame if.......some Norwegians settled there, and built this giant Zucca statue in Mall of America.

Zucca is a natural leader, i foresee that he will be given the A.

 

[AKL]

Hi there, nice state you got there, would be a real shame if.......some Norwegians settled there, and built this giant Zucca statue in Mall of America.

Zucca is a natural leader, i foresee that he will be given the A.

To be honest I can’t see him getting a letter this year. If it really is Koivu’s last year though, I could see him getting an A for the last few years when the C is given to Suter. Or perhaps they have 3 A’s instead.

 

[Spurgeon]

What even is this tweet:

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

What even is this tweet:

Fenton is a weirdo

 

[Uberdachen]

What even is this tweet:

You're a lizard, Matty.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

What even is this tweet:

Doesn't Zuccarello use an absurdly long stick?

 

[2Pair]

Man, I seem to remember my boy Russo telling us that Fenton wouldn't be able to sign anybody this summer because he turned this team toxic. HMMM