The Minnesota Wild announced today that they have signed forward Mats Zuccarello to a five-year contract worth $30 million ($6 million AAV). Zuccarello, who plays right wing, had 12 goals and 28 points in 48 games this season. He started the year with the New York Rangers before being traded to the Dallas Stars at the deadline. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Rangers before the 2010-11 season, Zuccarello on his third team in ten seasons after playing for the Rangers for the first nine and a half seasons of his career. This contract represents a significant raise from his last one, as he was paid $18 million over four years ($4.5 million AAV).
Lydia’s Reaction: This isn’t a bad deal, I actually like it, but it’s not what the Wild needed. Zuccarello is a good player who will be able to play on the second or possibly first line for the team. He has 114 goals and 241 assists over 511 career games. His playmaking ability is incredible, which will be helpful to a Wild team that lacked a lot of offense last season (they finished 27th in the league in goals scored over the season) and is looking to return to the playoffs. But, the Wild were in a three-way tie for the oldest average age last season, and they desperately need some young snipers. Zuccarello is neither young nor a sniper, as he’s 31 and has only scored more than 20 goals in a season once back in the 2015-16 season. Also, for him to be at his most effective as an excellent playmaker, he needs to be with a goal-scorer, which the Wild don’t have. Unless they get one, this contract could look really bad. If they do get one though, I think this could be a great signing, even though he isn’t what the team really needed. He’s a small guy, listed at just 5’8” and 184 pounds, but he isn’t afraid to take a hit to make a play and he is sound defensively. He’s also been on winning teams in the past, so he’ll be a good veteran presence in the dressing room, and he’s typically a well liked guy off the ice (or at least he was when he was with the Rangers). Zuccarello was also a fan favorite in New York and does a lot in the community, which will be a good example for a young Minnesota team. That, on top of his playmaking ability, particularly if they get him a goal scorer, could make this look like a really good deal for Minnesota that they won’t end up regretting. But, if they don’t get younger or get him a goal scorer, this will be an ugly one by the end of it. He’ll be 36 and his offensive production will likely have dropped off by then. But, the intangibles he brings will be helpful to the team if and when they decided to stop being stubborn and get younger. However, as the Bruins have found out with David Backes, intangibles are not worth $6 million. I hope this deal works out for them, as I like Zucc as a player, and it looks pretty good now. Let’s hope it doesn’t look as bad as some of the others will by the end of them!
Stephen’s Reaction: Out of all the star free agents this year, this was by far one of the best contracts handed out. Zuccarello is a renowned playmaker and is incredibly productive in the offensive zone. He’s great in the corners and at creating chances for his teammates. In his short time in Dallas, he produced at nearly a point per game rate between the playoffs and his two regular-season games with them despite being injured for a majority of his time there. I see him fitting in nicely with Zucker and those guys can really shine. Zucc can easily be a 70 point scorer. The biggest key to the contract is his health. If he can play 70-80 games, it’s worth the money. If he plays 55-65 games, you better hope he close to a point per game pace. Anything lower than that and he isn’t worth the $6 million. In my opinion, this whole contract relies on him staying healthy and if he does, Minnesota got an incredible deal.
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