[TRADE] Zucker traded to Pittsburgh

[newfcollins]

According to Bob McKenzie on Twitter:

MIN trades Jason Zucker to PIT for Galchenyuk, 2020 first-round pick and Calen Addison.

[hockeyrobot]

Galllllllllllllllllllchenyuk on the move again.

[ericdaoust]

Is this real or is this yet another false Zucker alarm?

[pmorrow]

Mark Zuckerburgh

[Axeman33]

I cant believe Pittsburgh found a sucker (or should I say Zucker) to take Galchenyuk.

[newfcollins]

Galchenyuk is a UFA this summer, so there was no risk for Minny to take him to make the salaries work. They will have him for two more months, and then he's gone.

[chuckcouples]

I don't think the Wild care about Galchenyuk in this deal. They traded a guy who's been demoted to their 4th line for a 1st round pick and the Penguins number 1 prospect. Galchenyuk was likely thrown in for cap/contract reasons. The Wild likely let him walk this summer unless he finds his game over the rest of this season.

This deal could work out very well for both teams but I think Pittsburgh overpaid.

[ericdaoust]

Galchenyuk's inclusion in the deal is pretty obvious. There's a salary cap in the NHL and Pittsburgh is pushing the limit.

[stevegamer]

I like the deal for the Wild. They git a pick, a good prospect, and a guy who can mostly replace what Zucker would give them this year. There's a chance he (or his rights) are tradable later in the year, as well

[rataylor22]

Zucker was demoted to the fourth line recently, but not on merit, and it lasted all of two periods. Have to think Pittsburgh is getting a pretty motivated player who doesn’t have to worry/think about trade rumours for the first time in three years. Zucker’s advanced stats show a significantly better than his boxcars would too.

It’s a fair deal, but this isn’t a steal for the Wild or anything. Zucker is 28 and signed for 3 more years after this to a good contract. He’s not declining, there’s cost certainty, and he plays the same style the Penguins play. Addison is certainly a good prospect, but he’s not an elite one, and the first will likely be 23 or later. It’s a pretty big price for a rental, but it’s not a rental.

[rataylor22]

As for Galchenyuk replacing what Zucker can do and being a trade chip....he’d have to have quite the turnaround in the next two months to be anything of value to anyone.

[chuckcouples]

Zucker was demoted to the fourth line recently, but not on merit, and it lasted all of two periods. Have to think Pittsburgh is getting a pretty motivated player who doesn’t have to worry/think about trade rumours for the first time in three years. Zucker’s advanced stats show a significantly better than his boxcars would too.

It’s a fair deal, but this isn’t a steal for the Wild or anything. Zucker is 28 and signed for 3 more years after this to a good contract. He’s not declining, there’s cost certainty, and he plays the same style the Penguins play. Addison is certainly a good prospect, but he’s not an elite one, and the first will likely be 23 or later. It’s a pretty big price for a rental, but it’s not a rental.

What advanced stats are you looking at? Natural Stat trick has him as the 12th best forward (among the Wild regular forwards) for Expected Goals For % (ahead of only Luke Kunin). He's 12th in High Danger Scoring Chance % ahead of only Victor Rask. He's 11th in Corsi For % ahead of Zuccarello and Kunin. He's 12th in Fenwick % ahead of only Kunin.

I also don't think Zucker is going to be a happy camper in Pittsburgh seeing as his wife and their 2 kids (plus her child from a previous relationship) will not be moving to Pittsburgh due to the shared custody of the eldest child.

With all that said, Zucker has the ability to go on a heater for the rest of the year and score a ton of goals. When he's motivated, he can be a great scoring winger.

[2014olympicgold]

Zucker has a solid opportunity ahead of him. He also has a tough road being away from his family, jumping into a TOTALLY different system than Minny ran.

As for the trade, Pitts gets their guy they've hunted for a while, Minny gets Addison, 1st round (conditional) pick, and a body to throw to the wolves this yr, and possibly re-sign in the offseason before FA to be a sacrificial player till the young bodies arrive.

[lucafen4]

Chucky can play on a line with Staal & Fiala and call it the 'reclamation project'

Minny got two solid pieces in this deal - 1st which could be anywhere from 21st to 31st realistically. And Calen Addison who had a real coming out party at the WJC.

The real question is... will Zucker work in Pitts.

Pearson didn't, Galchenyuk didn't - Kessel did but didn't. As talented as Crosby & Malkin are they're clearly not the easiest players to play with.

[duducks]

Thoughts on Zucker pushing out Rust for a spot on the PP1?

Rust is still over a point per game (45 in 40, 13ppp), and seemingly everyone expects the bottom to fall off on his season. His spot on PP1 is the difference between a 90 point and 65 point pace.