The Minnesota Wild have re-signed forward Mats Zuccarello to a two-year, $4.125MM AAV contract extension, set to begin in 2024-25. The deal carries a no-move clause for its entire duration, according to The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
Zuccarello, who turned 36 on the first day of the month, commits the next two years of his playing career to the Wild, the place where he’s enjoyed the most productive seasons of his career.
Zuccarello has had quite a bit of chemistry with Wild franchise superstar Kirill Kaprizov, and as a result Zuccarello has flown past his previous career highs in Minnesota.
Zuccarello scored 79 points in just 70 games in 2021-22, his first season above the point-per-game mark in his career. Last season, Zuccarello scored 22 goals and 67 points in 78 games.
Even though Zuccarello has been exceptional in Minnesota since the arrival of Kaprizov, this contract does carry some risk. The Wild are in a brutal cap situation thanks to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and those buyouts will remain on their books to a degree of over $14MM combined in the first year of Zuccarello’s extension.
While Zuccarello could provide an immense amount of surplus value on a $4.125MM cap hit (a pay cut from his current $6MM cap figure) that only happens if he can maintain his current level of play or decline only slightly. If age starts to really catch up with Zuccarello and he has a poor 2023-24, Zuccarello’s $4.125MM cap number could quickly become a burden.
But from the Wild’s perspective, it’s understandable that they’d avoid taking the pessimistic view of Zuccarello’s next two seasons and instead reward a valued veteran who has more than repaid former GM Paul Fenton’s original investment from the summer of 2019.
There’s risk involved to this deal, but there’s also major upside if Zuccarello can remain a valuable top-six scorer.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
He’s 36 years old, Truly a laughable signing by Guerin.
Can we ban this guy ^ already?
Like, it’s every single time….
@pawtucket
As far as I’m concerned, you’re worse than he is. He’s obviously doing it to provoke a reaction, and you fall for it every time. Just mute him ferchrissakes, if you can’t handle it.
And that’s the last I’ll say on the subject, before I mute you.
I’m starting to think KRB is Wilf
@pawtucket
Nope.
I’ve seen this gag before. When the internet was new, all the NHL teams had their own websites, and message boards. On the Capitals board, there was a clown who called himself The All Knowing. He’d say crazy things, all the time. One time I fell for his looniness, until people clued me in. I’ve never fallen for that scam since.
If someone is writing things that are over the top absurd, and demonstrably wrong, over and over, it has to be deliberate. No one could be that wrong.
And if I was Wilf, and deliberately writing silly things for a laugh, why would I ruin the joke, by admitting it?
^ something Wilf would do!
Diabolical!!!
@pawtucket
Yes, yes spout your conspiracy theory, looney tunes. What size tin foil hat do you wear?
4.1 on a 2 year deal isn’t bad at all. He has great chemistry with Kaprizov, and he’s a leader in the dressing room who can still produce 50-60 pts a year.
I agree. Good value contract, especially for a team with almost $15 mill in dead cap space.
It’s just age and injury that can be the issue. Isn’t a lot of his game speed? We’ll we all saw Marleau when his speed fell off his game followed qucik
You are exactly right!
That’s true, but he looked great last season, doesn’t look like he’s lost much speed and I think he’s a safe bet to put up 50 pts minimum over the course of this contract.
It’s a terrible waste of money for a player that old, The term is acceptable, Giving a guy that old that much money doesn’t get you closer to the ultimate prize, Guerin has been his own worst enemy as Wild GM. Minnesota will finish 6th this year in the Central and miss the playoffs. Your welcome!!!!!
Is there a contract or signing you do agree with? For arguments sake what do you think he is worth and on what term?
ZUUUUUUU!
Don’t care how much it’s for as long as it’s good for kaprozov and the team. And they are both excellent for the team.