Ex-Penguins forward Jason Zucker back in playoffs with Predators
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Jason Zucker has something today that he didn’t have in his final days with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
An X.
As in the initial that gets placed next to a team’s name in the standings when it qualifies for the postseason.
Currently a member of the Nashville Predators, Zucker will be heading to the playoffs after missing them a year ago when he and the Penguins were eliminated from contention in the final days of the 2022-23 regular season.
“That feels great,” Zucker said following the Predators’ morning skate Monday at PPG Paints Arena. “You play this game to get into the playoffs. Realistically, it doesn’t matter how good you are, how bad you are. If you get in the playoffs, you have a chance. It just shows how tight the race is every year to get in. It’s always a couple of points. It’s always that game you gave up in October or whatever it is. It just shows how fickle a league it is and how hard of a league it is to get in.
“To have another chance to go play in the playoffs and have a chance to win (a Stanley Cup championship) is exciting.”
The Penguins brought Zucker in via a trade in February of 2020 for that reason.
Former general manager Jim Rutherford acquired Zucker from the Minnesota Wild to serve as a top-six winger alongside Sidney Crosby, at first, then Evgeni Malkin.
But those aspirations were never realized as the Penguins were eliminated in the opening round of postseason competition during Zucker’s first three seasons in Pittsburgh.
And despite a strong 2022-23 campaign by Zucker — he appeared in 78 games and scored 48 points (27 goals, 21 assists) — the Penguins missed the playoffs in his fourth and final campaign with the club.
That failure led to executives Brian Burke, Ron Hextall and Chris Pryor being fired and Kyle Dubas being installed as president of hockey operations June 1.
Entering the offseason, Zucker declared a desire to resign with the Penguins, but there were no discussions between his representation and new management.
“I had every intention of coming back here,” Zucker said. “That was my one and only option, and it was a phone call that I never got. I never heard from them. They obviously decided to go in another direction. It was out of my control. I absolutely loved my time here and would have loved to be back. But that’s just not the way it went.”
Zucker wound up signing a one-year contract worth $5.3 million with the Arizona Coyotes.
With the NHL still dealing with the economic ramifications of the pandemic, Zucker, like a lot of free agents, had limited options.
“It was a weird free agency market for everybody,” Zucker said. “You look at the other guys that came in (such as forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Bertuzzi), we all signed one-year deals. The marketing was interesting. Nobody was handing out long-term deals, the (salary) cap stayed flat. It was just kind of tough timing, especially for me coming off a good year. It was for everybody. That’s the way it went. For me, signing a one-year deal was more about just getting an opportunity wherever I could.”
An undisclosed injury and a suspension limited Zucker to 51 games and 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) with the Coyotes. By March 8, he was traded to the Predators.
Arizona goal!
Scored by Jason Zucker with 12:56 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Sean Durzi and Logan Cooley.
Arizona: 3
Colorado: 4#COLvsARI #Yotes #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/YPrwvccc5v— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 28, 2023
Since joining Nashville, the 32-year-old primarily has been stationed on the second line and has generated seven points (five goals, two assists) in 17 games.
Power play goal for Nashville!
Scored by Jason Zucker with 10:21 remaining in the 2nd period.
Assisted by Roman Josi and Kevin Lankinen.
Chicago: 0
Nashville: 4#NSHvsCHI #Blackhawks #Preds pic.twitter.com/JXhRv2CWES— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 13, 2024
“He’s brought his identity, and I think that’s a lot of speed, he’s really competitive and he’s a goal scorer,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “He can get on a hot streak. He has proved that with us. A little bit tricky obviously (with) a little different system and jumping in. But he’s a great teammate. He jumped in, and he’s doing fine.”
Zucker is more than fine with being back on a playoff team.
“With the trade, I was really happy ending up here (with) Nashville,” Zucker said. “It’s been a great group of guys. Overall, it’s just been a fun system to step into and fun organization to step back into it. Kind of got back to my game a little bit. Feel really good about it.”