Mats Zuccarello

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Okay. Usually, the first name is from your father's side, the second from your mother's side. Apparently in Norway, it's the other way around

 

[nyr2k2]

Okay. Usually, the first name is from your father's side, the second from your mother's side. Apparently in Norway, it's the other way around

We're getting way OT here, but I actually looked this up fairly recently--there's no accepted convention in the US as to which name comes first. It's up to the couple, and there's no established, traditional way of doing it. FWIW, most people I know with hyphenated last names have their mother's last name first. I have no idea if there's a standard convention in Nordic culture though.

Sooo....go MZA!

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Well, here in Holland, there is a standard, but let's not get off course too much.

Zuccarello was very solid last night. I really enjoyed the way he kept opponents busy. He creates something out of nothing and gives our PP a lot of spark.

 

[Ilovemymum]

We're getting way OT here, but I actually looked this up fairly recently--there's no accepted convention in the US as to which name comes first. It's up to the couple, and there's no established, traditional way of doing it. FWIW, most people I know with hyphenated last names have their mother's last name first. I have no idea if there's a standard convention in Nordic culture though.

Sooo....go MZA!

Mother's name in between given name and surname in Norway. If it's not a hyphen, than it's technically a second given name, which means that his proper surname is Aasen. But he wanted to honor his mother as she brought him up I think, like all good (1/4) Italian boys. Well done Miss Zuccarello, saved this series for know at least.

 

[nyr2k2]

Does Zucca still get a lot of coverage in the Norwegian sports media? I remember after he signed here, we had a lot of folks saying that the press followed his every move, like the Japanese press with their players in MLB. Is it still like that?

 

[Wal]

Does Zucca still get a lot of coverage in the Norwegian sports media? I remember after he signed here, we had a lot of folks saying that the press followed his every move, like the Japanese press with their players in MLB. Is it still like that?

Yeah, he still gets a lot of media cover. There is usually a story after each game in most big newspapers.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Good game from Zucc, think it was actually good utilization of him although I'm sure many aren't happy with his ice time.

 

[Ilovemymum]

Yes, indeed. Most, if not all of the biggest newspapers make a story on every game he plays, at least on their web editions, and now in the play-offs. Rangers are getting quite a fan base in Norway these days (maybe not Torts always, but Rangers Not sure how all of the die hard Rangers fans feel when Norwegians are flooding the forum, but there are many ways to start loving a team, and Zuke is maybe just as good as any other excuse. They send the games starting at 1 am - 1:30 am at night, and I have seen the past 18 games less one I think Slowly the interest (and frustration) is growing for the rest of the team and so on.

 

[Idlerlee]

Hockey in Norway is pretty much a miniature sport considering how little we actually invest in new rinks and recruitment. But the fanbase is large and we're not exactly spoiled with big names since Espen "Shampoo" Knutsen's era.

Zuccarello is a really likeable down to earth guy, exactly what people here at home like, so the fact that he is making a sizeable contribution here is very likely to inflate the Rangers fanbase even more, especially if he is re-signed.

But yeah what the rest said, he gets news coverage after the games, and now for some not-so pleasant incidents that's been mentioned here. He's perhaps not our best player (That one should go to Patrik Thoresen in the KHL), but he is certainly the most popular player.

 

[Zucc36]

Does Zucca still get a lot of coverage in the Norwegian sports media? I remember after he signed here, we had a lot of folks saying that the press followed his every move, like the Japanese press with their players in MLB. Is it still like that?

Haha, you bet!

After every single game since he returned to Rangers, ther has been a story about the game. And not once have the headline missed out on the word "Zucca" or "Zuccarello".

Typical headlines:

"Zucca and Raners with a huge win"
"Zuccarello with an assist, but Rangers lose"

My favorite headline, and the most embarassing for the media was last year:

"NHL-Zuccarello hit the post"
Another newspaper followed up with:
"Zuccarello hit the post and got a penalty"

But despite a lot of embarrasing coverage in media Zuke has had a tremendous influence on the hockey interest in Norway. The New York Rangers obviously have multiplied their fan base in Norway by many numbers.

Remember, hockey in Norway is not a very big sport. The media have extremely little coverage, even the home league barely gets noticed. And when they do, it is usually because of a ugly tackle that causes injury or a brawl on the ice (fighting in norwegian hockey is banned and automatically gives players game suspensions).

 

[The Gloaming]

Zuccs hitting the post is big news though. Everyone else on the team misses the net. Hitting the post is a lot closer.

 

[Suzpaz]

There's also a story about Zucc now getting in trouble with the Norwegian National Team. If Rangers go out of the playoffs, he's banned from playing in the world cup.


Thing is, he's made a private sponsorship agreement with a company called Unibet, a sports booker and gambling website. However, The Norwegian Hockey Federation is heavily subsidised by the Norwegian Betting Organization, a state owned organization that has a monopoly on betting and sportsbooking in Norway. Because Unibet is a competitor, they (federation) banned Zucc from the national team as long as he's involved with them.

Zucc hit back calling the federation a boys club full of amateurs lol.

 

[TollefsenFan]

Haha, you bet!

After every single game since he returned to Rangers, ther has been a story about the game. And not once have the headline missed out on the word "Zucca" or "Zuccarello".

Typical headlines:

"Zucca and Raners with a huge win"
"Zuccarello with an assist, but Rangers lose"

My favorite headline, and the most embarassing for the media was last year:

"NHL-Zuccarello hit the post"
Another newspaper followed up with:
"Zuccarello hit the post and got a penalty"

But despite a lot of embarrasing coverage in media Zuke has had a tremendous influence on the hockey interest in Norway. The New York Rangers obviously have multiplied their fan base in Norway by many numbers.

Remember, hockey in Norway is not a very big sport. The media have extremely little coverage, even the home league barely gets noticed. And when they do, it is usually because of a ugly tackle that causes injury or a brawl on the ice (fighting in norwegian hockey is banned and automatically gives players game suspensions).

http://www.tv2.no/sport/ishockey/zuccarello-overkjoert-av-traktor-i-debuten-3870511.html

This one is still the best. Zuccarello run over by traktor in his debut

 

[TollefsenFan]

There's also a story about Zucc now getting in trouble with the Norwegian National Team. If Rangers go out of the playoffs, he's banned from playing in the world cup.


Thing is, he's made a private sponsorship agreement with a company called Unibet, a sports booker and gambling website. However, The Norwegian Hockey Federation is heavily subsidised by the Norwegian Betting Organization, a state owned organization that has a monopoly on betting and sportsbooking in Norway. Because Unibet is a competitor, they (federation) banned Zucc from the national team as long as he's involved with them.

Zucc hit back calling the federation a boys club full of amateurs lol.

And the olympics. Norway vs Austria in sochi = Swedish elite league vs Vanek, Grabner, Nødl and Pøck. Austria wins!

 

[Zucc36]

There's also a story about Zucc now getting in trouble with the Norwegian National Team. If Rangers go out of the playoffs, he's banned from playing in the world cup.


Thing is, he's made a private sponsorship agreement with a company called Unibet, a sports booker and gambling website. However, The Norwegian Hockey Federation is heavily subsidised by the Norwegian Betting Organization, a state owned organization that has a monopoly on betting and sportsbooking in Norway. Because Unibet is a competitor, they (federation) banned Zucc from the national team as long as he's involved with them.

Zucc hit back calling the federation a boys club full of amateurs lol.

Kudos to Zucc for speaking out to those old fat guys who think they are Kings on the road.

A bunch of useless hypocrites IMO. Interesting matter in the case is that the norwegian broadcasting network MAX covering the championship is heavliy sponsored by guess who? Yes, Unibet. Seems to no problem at all for the hockey federation. Another interesting matter is that Espen Knutsen and Petter Thoresen, both coaches for the two top teams in Norway, Stavanger and VÃ¥lerenga, are hired as experts in the same station. This also seems to not be a problem for the federation? No, they are not directly involved with the national team, but they are still under the wings of the Norwegian hockey federation as the are coaches for the hockey clubs!

Zuccarello has stated that he will of course follow all the rules when he is with the national team, both games and training camps. Of course he respects that. But when he, as a private citizen of Norway, walks around on his free time with a Unibet cap, the norwegian hockey federation has nothing to do with this.

An last, but not least, the way the federation gave these "news" to Zuke is just totally unprofessional. He got the news through news on the internet at the same time as we did. And the federation found out that a perfect time to talk about their decision was in the middle of Stanley Cup playoffs for Zuccarello. What a bunch of a$$holes.

I give Zuccarello 110% support on this, and IMO the nation team of Norway do not deserve his services.

 

[nyr2k2]

Wow, so much drama. Stay focused, Zucca! He's been such a huge boost to the team. I'm really surprised. If what we're seeing from him is what he'll bring every night from here on, we definitely need to bring him back. The creativity and vision that he and Brassard have shown is really refreshing.

 

[SixGoalieSystem]

Wow, so much drama. Stay focused, Zucca! He's been such a huge boost to the team. I'm really surprised. If what we're seeing from him is what he'll bring every night from here on, we definitely need to bring him back. The creativity and vision that he and Brassard have shown is really refreshing.

Wouldn't worry. He had his outburst before monday's win and has mostly left his agent to deal with this stuff.

 

[fredrikstad]

Italian kid..

Who in his family is actually Italian, his mother?

It's actually his Grand Mother. His full name is Mats Andre Zuccarello Aasen

 

[Ilovemymum]

It's actually his Grand Mother. His full name is Mats Andre Zuccarello Aasen

His got five As in his name, one for every feet of his body. Must be an NHL record.

 

[bernmeister]

He looked fluid, he looked in shape and most importantly, he looked smart.

This is all true and I'm happy to second those positives.
However, being honest, I had to vote no, 'cause I think he's unable to handle bigger NHL size Fs at body checking. Even with exceptional stick checking technique, he's typically giving up too much height and strength to opponents.

That can't possibly be good.

Also I'm not sure he has the little bit extra speed which (if memory serves) a slightly taller Christian Thomas has to create the separation to be that much more effective on offense.

 

[Pizza]

Two things.

If he can start putting the puck in the net and if they can give him a line mate that can convert his passes...oh boy.

 

[Holocene]

What was it, in the final two minutes of the game he had two great takeaways from.. Ovechkin? in the offensive zone. He got some loud cheers for his effort. Though apparently Ovy wasn't playing with much effort himself so it might not have been that hard

 

[wolfgaze]

I like what he contributes to the team and I hope they make room for him in the future. His passing ability and creativity with the puck adds a much needed element out on the ice.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Zucc is stuck playing with human offense killer in Boyle. Sets up Boyle for 2 golden opportunities to ice the game and of course nothing from Boyle. Why not Zucc-Brassard-Nash? Maybe the 2 best passers on the team with Nash. Brassard will have even more space.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Zucc is stuck playing with human offense killer in Boyle. Sets up Boyle for 2 golden opportunities to ice the game and of course nothing from Boyle. Why not Zucc-Brassard-Nash? Maybe the 2 best passers on the team with Nash. Brassard will have even more space.

Now that line would be a killer. Pure gold.