Confirmed Signing with Link: [MIN] Wild sign Zucker to $27.5m deal (5 years, $5.5M AAV)

[Dr Jan Itor]

I thought it was also NTC's... or did Pominville have a full NMC when we had to protect him?

He had both modified NTC and a NMC.

 

[Bazeek]

He had both modified NTC and a NMC.

Aaah, gotcha. Then yeah, Zucker's contract's really no problem in that respect. The chances of him being exposed seem low anyway, but you never know.

 

[Aladyyn]

Maybe, but going by the discussions around Coyle I'm guessing fans aren't going to come to any agreement. Coyle's more valuable to the Wild (in my opinion), but Zucker should be more valuable on the trade market. There's also kind of a schism between Wild fans that are hot to trade him for a haul and those that want to keep him.

If we're talking futures, I'd want a 1st, a good forward prospect and a mid-round pick. The Sabres can probably afford to pay that if they want Zucker, but I don't think the sides (fans, anyway) would ever agree on which 1st and which prospect.

I'm sure a lot of Sabres fans would be quick to put Nylander on the table, fwiw

 

[Bazeek]

I'm sure a lot of Sabres fans would be quick to put Nylander on the table, fwiw

My feelings about Nylander at this point are that he's about like Kunin with a lower floor and a higher ceiling. Which isn't bad; I think Kunin's a good prospect. But it's hard to justify giving up Coyle or Zucker if he's the main piece coming back, especially with his relatively flat numbers over the past few years. Kunin's the sort of guy that can be good even if he's not in a scoring role. Nylander isn't, and it's hard to tell if he's on the cusp of figuring it out or falling off the map.

The other problem with Nylander is that the drama with his brother makes it seem like there's no Best Case Scenario with him. If he does figure it out and puts up 50+ points before his next contract, are we suddenly looking at having to pay him $6m-$7m?

 

[Drew311]

I've got to disagree here. They've got Parise, Nino and Greenway as left-shot wingers even without Zucker, and some decent call-up options in the AHL behind them. He's the most valuable trade asset we have at our deepest position.

Well Zucker is better than two of those players, so I think his absence would be felt.

 

[Bazeek]

Well Zucker is better than two of those players, so I think he absence would be felt.

The gap between he and Nino isn't as big as everyone on the trade board seems to think it is, and I have a lot of faith in Greenway's future.

 

[Bruce Granville]

I know Wild fans have mostly disregarded any potential trades with the Sabres but is there anything to be done here?

Sure. You get a 2nd and the Wild gets to choose one player.
And no worries, it won‘t be Eichel.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Very good contract for a guy who should be good for 25-30+ goals and ~50 points during the contract. The fact that its buying so many UFA years is notable.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Very good contract for a guy who should be good for 25-30+ goals and ~50 points during the contract. The fact that its buying so many UFA years is notable.

True.

People are just mad because he, like pretty much everybody else on the team, hasn't had a very good month of December.

 

[Bazeek]

True.

People are just mad because he, like pretty much everybody else on the team, hasn't had a very good month of December.

Not mad, but I don't think he gets a pass on the trade talk either.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Not mad, but I don't think he gets a pass on the trade talk either.

I think there's probably too much of it as there is.

 

[Bazeek]

I think there's probably too much of it as there is.

Maybe, but it seems like some sort of major decision point is approaching in the next few weeks unless the team really turns on the afterburners and look dangerous again.

 

[dBoon]

His speed seems a notch lower than the explosive speed we've witnessed in the past. Maybe nursing a wound of some sort?

 

[stempniaksen]

Makes that Zucker/Stone thread from the summer look even sillier.

He's a good player, that any team would be lucky to have. Strongly doubt he'll ever reach the offensive heights he did last season though.

 

[ImNeverWrong]

good player, underrated. good contract.

 

[ottawa]

Great deal, Zucker is a borderline top line player and still only 26.

Borderline top line player is code for middle 6

 

[Bazeek]

Borderline top line player is code for middle 6

He put up 33 goals and 64 points on the top line last year, and there's nothing flukey about those numbers. He shouldn't be the best player on that line, but he's absolutely shown an ability to play and produce 1st line numbers with 1st line talent. I'm not sure what else you'd call that.

 

[ottawa]

He put up 33 goals and 64 points on the top line last year, and there's nothing flukey about those numbers. He shouldn't be the best player on that line, but he's absolutely shown an ability to play and produce 1st line numbers with 1st line talent. I'm not sure what else you'd call that.

I'd like to see him reproduce anything remotely close to that before I call him a top line player. I think that contract is good even if he turns into a ~55 point player...he doesn't need to hit or beat last years 64 points, that would be gravy.

 

[Rask Decisions]

Another worthless and bad contract by the Mild. Zucker is a limited player who is lucky to score above 20 goals/40 points on a contending team. It's contracts like this why the "Mild" are so terrible.

 

[Chainshot]

I know Wild fans have mostly disregarded any potential trades with the Sabres but is there anything to be done here?

That... that would be most interesting. Putting one of the extra firsts on the table for sure.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

I likes this a lot!

Not exactly a steal but I'm sure he could have gotten more somewhere else

 

[Beerz]

The Wild should just take Okposo now and get it over with ..instead of waiting a few years

 

[Bazeek]

The Wild should just take Okposo now and get it over with ..instead of waiting a few years

We've got enough former players torturing us in media roles, thank you very much.

 

[2Pair]

The Wild should just take Okposo now and get it over with ..instead of waiting a few years

Okposo burned his "one of us" card when he bailed on the U.