Speculation: Return of the Zuck

[Kristopher Letang]

We should move on but I think that Sully is going to push to keep him around.

Big mistake.

 

[reino]

Zucker style is very brutal way to play your whole career. At some point he will start playing like Rust and Kunitz and that point he's worth 2m. People will turn on him very fast

 

[Flying Dego]

...also thanks a lot because now I'm gonna have this horrible Mark Morrison song in my head all day due to the thread title.

 

[Peat]

Being the last team to give out a winger a big contract rarely works well but there's so few players in the NHL who play with speed and grit - and produce - and are available - that I think we'd struggle to replace him.

But then to no small extent, the money's already spent...

 

[Flying Dego]

While I know a long contract to him with his injuries is a bad idea...I just shudder to look at this roster somehow getting softer and more bland.

Ideally we retool this roster and find some younger chippy players. Easier said than done but that's why guys get paid millions to make a roster, eh?

 

[mpp9]

I’d rather let him walk, try and dump some more salary and wait for a legit difference maker to be available and pounce.

 

[orby]

I like Zucker, and he's having a hell of a season, but sometimes it's wise to just let a player move on. The Pens cannot keep giving guys in their thirties multi-year contracts worth a gazillion dollars if they want to stay competitive as the core ages.

 

[SEALBound]

I like Zucker, and he's having a hell of a season, but sometimes it's wise to just let a player move on. The Pens cannot keep giving guys in their thirties multi-year contracts worth a gazillion dollars if they want to stay competitive as the core ages.

I think the argument there is for a guy like Dumoulin who has shown a clear decline in performance. If a player is 30 and still providing exactly what we need, I think it's a tad bit safer.

That said, I do agree. The toughest part about re-signing him...is the age. We have GOT to figure out how to get younger.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Zucker was either injured or underperforming for the overwhelming majority of his time here.

Finally putting it together in a contract year at age 31 isn't enough for me to want to commit good money to the guy for the rest of Crosby and Malkin's time here. Particularly since we know what we have isn't good enough.

If it were up to me, I'd also move Rust, Granlund, and Carter in the off-season and try to actually get players who can make a difference for this team.

This is my problem.

If he was posting numbers like this the whole entire time. I'd be like let's do this.

Contract year and he's playing lights out?

If we trade Rust or can dump Carter or get rust at a lower amount then what the free market rate is.

Then yes we can probably sign him. I was down to sign him until we got Granlund.

And again I don't hate Granlund the player. Hate the fact we used a 2nd for overpaid ufa.

Edit: Just to add
Playing too well for us to offer Fair value

 

[Goalie_Bob]

The team needs to get younger.

 

[molon labe]

If the money is going to another McGinn signing or one of the do-nothing goalies in the free agent market this year - then yes...I'd rather have Zuck.

But as the sole voter for Miller in this thread, I'd rather have an 8M Miller over a 5-5.5 mil Zucker. This team is going to truly regret 2 things going forward - and that's not adding a needle-moving player and not addressing the goaltending. Focus is on the now though, plenty of time to argue in the Summer lol

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

If the money is going to another McGinn signing or one of the do-nothing goalies in the free agent market this year - then yes...I'd rather have Zuck.

But as the sole voter for Miller in this thread, I'd rather have an 8M Miller over a 5-5.5 mil Zucker. This team is going to truly regret 2 things going forward - and that's not adding a needle-moving player and not addressing the goaltending. Focus is on the now though, plenty of time to argue in the Summer lol

I would also prefer Miller. Size, proven scoring, and positional versatility all matter.

This team does need another needle-mover.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

If the money is going to another McGinn signing or one of the do-nothing goalies in the free agent market this year - then yes...I'd rather have Zuck.

But as the sole voter for Miller in this thread, I'd rather have an 8M Miller over a 5-5.5 mil Zucker. This team is going to truly regret 2 things going forward - and that's not adding a needle-moving player and not addressing the goaltending. Focus is on the now though, plenty of time to argue in the Summer lol

Eh I wanted Miller to. I wanted to shoot for the moon. Give our guys a good last chance.

Tampa Bay is going after a cup while we are going to a first round exit.

 

[Empoleon8771]

What Zucker is doing right now isn’t unsustainable, it’s just how good he is when he’s healthy. He has 42 points in 62 games this year, which is almost identical to his production in the year he was traded to the Penguins (41 points in 61 games). He just needs to stay healthy.

The only reason you don’t keep him is if you’re scared of his injury issues resurfacing. Otherwise you keep him

 

[ChaosAgent]

The real player discussion is what would make Rust waive. If anything.

 

[The Old Master]

Yeah this is where I stand too


Related question, are giraffes just horses with weird body mod fetishes?

not sure about that, but i know that a camel is a horse designed by hf posters.

 

[Flying Dego]

The real player discussion is what would make Rust waive. If anything.

Less than zero. Not even worth discussion lol. He's got the best situation

 

[HandshakeLine]

Less than zero. Not even worth discussion lol. He's got the best situation

Rust only waived when he doesn’t want to play for the coach anymore, so never.

 

[dogthateats]

41 points in 61 games with how he has been playing kind of tells you how meh the rest of his season was. Plus he wasn’t very good when he had nagging injuries. I feel like we are going to keep him, but I don’t really want to.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

41 points in 61 games with how he has been playing kind of tells you how meh the rest of his season was.

It tells you he was on PP2 all year and doesn't get EN situations.
He could be at ~50 right now, with his sights set on 60.
There's 16 games left.

21 5v5 goals at this point in the season is pretty huge, given his role.

9th best in the league.

 

[ChaosAgent]

It tells you he was on PP2 all year and doesn't get EN situations.
He could be at ~50 right now, with his sights set on 60.
There's 16 games left.

View attachment 668443
21 5v5 goals at this point in the season is pretty huge, given his role.

View attachment 668445
9th best in the league.

I don't understand how smart fans don't account for EN time (or lack thereof) and PP time (or lack thereof) in assessing a player's point production.

 

[CascadiaPenguin]

My exact thoughts.

Can't believe it only took a couple months into his new contract to get sick of Rust and his NMC.

That is funny, wrt Rust I went from "Hey, that's pretty cool, didn't see that coming!" to "I wonder who he'd waive his NMC for?" in like no time. I figure I'll be plenty sick of him by 2028 if I am still alive.

 

[Gurglesons]

That is funny, wrt Rust I went from "Hey, that's pretty cool, didn't see that coming!" to "I wonder who he'd waive his NMC for?" in like no time. I figure I'll be plenty sick of him by 2028 if I am still alive.

I don't understand the hatred towards Rust honestly.

I hate him with GCR. I hate him on powerplay 1.

I think he's perfectly fine as a middle 6 guy getting paid for 5 mil.

 

[CascadiaPenguin]

I don't understand the hatred towards Rust honestly.

I hate him with GCR. I hate him on powerplay 1.

I think he's perfectly fine as a middle 6 guy getting paid for 5 mil.

He will always be a Domer to me. Can't wash that off...

 

[ncm7772]

In a perfect world, I’d sign him to a 2-3 year deal at like 4M tops. But he’ll get more than this somewhere else.