Veteran winger Jason Zucker has been a nice addition for the Sabres this season and he is on pace for one of his best offensive years. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Buffalo will soon have a decision to make in terms of flipping him by the March 7th trade deadline or trying to sign him to a contract extension. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reported earlier this week that their preference is the latter as the two sides recently held preliminary discussions about a new deal.
The 33-year-old played on a one-year contract last season, splitting time between Arizona and Nashville. However, he was only able to collect 14 goals and 18 assists in 69 regular season games between the two sides which didn’t help his market value heading into free agency last summer. As a result, Zucker ultimately settled for another one-year pact in July, signing for $5MM.
That deal has worked out well for both sides. Zucker has already surpassed his numbers from last season, putting up 18 goals and 23 assists in 52 games. His 41 points put him fourth on the team in scoring but only two points behind Rasmus Dahlin for a share of second place. Barring injury, Zucker appears to be well on his way toward recording his seventh career season of at least 20 goals.
Last month, Zucker acknowledged that he’d be interested in extending his stay with Buffalo. Speculatively, he’d want a multi-year agreement this time around and according to Lysowski, that appears to be something that’s on the table. With a $7.5MM jump in the Upper Limit of the salary cap coming next season, Zucker now should be able to land a small raise on his current price tag as well.
Lysowski adds that GM Kevyn Adams’ preference is to not sell over the next three weeks despite their placement at the bottom of the Eastern Conference so clearly, his preference is to get a new agreement in place. However, it appears that if Zucker prefers to move on and land with a contender, they will grant that request and then attempt to bring him back in the summer. In the meantime, they have three more weeks to see if contract discussions can yield a new deal.
He’s 33 having a great year and you’re going nowhere fast. Trade him.
They can always resign him in the offseason. This is why Adams is terrible at asset management.
How often does that happen though
Yeah. You sure as hell don’t give him a multiyear EXTENSION, with a raise to boot.
You have to trade him lol.
Not trading a 33 year old having a career year (2.9 pts/60) on an expiring deal is complete madness. If Terry isn’t going to move on from Adams then he should sell the team. What a directionless franchise.
Clueless Kevyn!!!
Just move them to Toronto already.