Mark Madden: Trade for Jason Zucker proves Penguins again doing their best to win now

Jason Zucker seems a good fit for the Penguins, and for Sidney Crosby’s line.

His speed and skill generate odd-man breaks. He’s adept at attacking off the rush. Zucker isn’t having a banner season (14 goals in 46 games) but he has topped 20 goals four times since 2014-15, peaking at 33 in 2017-18.

Zucker is a legit top-six contributor. He’s relentless, like the Penguins. He’s signed through 2023. He’s likely the best winger that general manager Jim Rutherford could have acquired.

The Penguins never cheat their fans when it comes to trying to win. If the window is open, they try to maximize.

Ron Francis in 1991. Rick Tocchet in 1992. Marian Hossa in 2008. Bill Guerin in 2009. Jarome Iginla in 2013. Now Zucker.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But if the Stanley Cup is within reach, the Penguins try to strengthen their grasp.

Compare that to the Pirates, who build for a future that never comes. When the Pirates went for it in 2018 by trading for Chris Archer, it failed miserably.

Zucker made his Penguins debut in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to visiting Tampa Bay. He played like somebody who traveled all day to get to the game. He will do better.

Whether Zucker plays with Crosby, as planned, seems at question. When asked about Zucker post-game, Crosby praised his quality, “whoever he plays with.”

Hossa, James Neal, Iginla and Phil Kessel were all acquired to play on Crosby’s line. Only Hossa did.

Tuesday’s game started with Zucker and Patric Hornqvist flanking Crosby. But, after two periods, Dominik Simon replaced Hornqvist. It was like a swallow returning to Capistrano. Crosby loves skating with Simon. (Simon had an excellent third period.)

Rutherford paid a heavy price for Zucker: A first-round pick and Calen Addison, who was the Penguins’ top prospect on defense. Minnesota also took Alex Galchenyuk off the Penguins’ hands, leaving Rutherford salary cap space to pursue a rental.

It’s easy to criticize selling out the future, even in the logical pursuit of winning now. Zucker is an excellent player. But he offers no guarantees.

But draft picks and prospects offer even fewer guarantees.

The first-round pick surrendered for Iginla in ‘13 turned out to be winger Morgan Klimchuk. He has played one NHL game.

When the Penguins got Hossa in ‘08, they traded that year’s first-round selection to Atlanta along with their first-round choice from ’07, Angelo Esposito. Neither Esposito nor that pick in ’08 (Daultan Leveille) ever played a game in the NHL.

But when the Penguins traded their first-round pick to Edmonton in ’15 to get David Perron, that choice ultimately went to the New York Islanders and became Mathew Barzal, the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2017-18.

Win some, lose some.

But the gamble is worth it if your team is close to a championship.

The Penguins are. So the Zucker trade is a good one.

The trickledown of acquiring Zucker will be significant. Jared McCann was Evgeni Malkin’s left wing Tuesday. But when winger Dominik Kahun returns from being concussed, McCann’s biggest value looks to be playing third-line center.

Zucker played little on special teams Tuesday, skating one minute with the man advantage. But that needs practiced. Zucker isn’t a prototypical net-front presence like Hornqvist, but he has got good touch near the blue paint and could usurp Hornqvist on the power play by way of justifying the trade. (Things like that matter.)

Getting Zucker also will affect a trickledown come the offseason. Zucker carries a $5.5 million cap figure. Jake Guentzel’s $6 million hit returns next season. Rutherford has several restricted free agents to sign, including McCann, Kahun, Simon and goaltenders Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry.

Having Zucker could impact the goaltending, especially if Murray wants big money and long term. (He’s rumored to want eight years at $8 million per. He won’t get it.)

The acquisition of Zucker spawns many variables.

But one thing remains constant: Organizationally, the Penguins always do their best to win.