• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins Transactions

Penguins, Zucker Enjoy Honeymoon Phase

By Tim Neral February 22nd, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

When Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford made yet another splash before this season’s trade deadline, sending the team’s 2020 first round pick, forward Alex Galchenyuk and top prospect Calen Addison to the Minnesota Wild for winger Jason Zucker, the buzz in local media circles and among Penguins fans was nearly unanimously positive. Yes, losing Addison hurts the club, but a late first-rounder is hardly a Mercedes.

Related: 20 Biggest NHL Trades in the Past Year

Meanwhile, the Galchenyuk experiment, a trial run that began following a one-for-one swap with the Arizona Coyotes, sending fan-favorite Phil Kessel to the desert, had turned into such a nightmare that Galchenyuk was approaching healthy scratch territory. Despite playing on one of the league’s hottest teams, he sported a 46.28 Corsi for percentage (CF%), well below league average, a score which found him in the company of players from the league’s worst teams (Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, and Detroit Red Wings, to name a few).

Alex Galchenyuk Pittsburgh Penguins
Former Penguin Alex Galchenyuk (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Zucker, meanwhile, had been the organization’s dream add for years and was nearly a Penguin last spring before the trade was nixed by Kessel’s no-trade clause. His speed, which has become a calling card for Pittsburgh’s system, seemed a perfect match for the black and gold.

Related: Pennsylvania Hockey – A Long, Proud History

However, Rutherford’s deal for center Derick Brassard came with similar applause, but had thoroughly disappointing results. While playing on the wing of one of the best players in hockey history in Sidney Crosby should be a net positive regardless of the player, fans have also seen a substantial list of names fail to mesh with the future Hall-of-Famer (Kessel, James Neal, David Perron, to name a few). Would Zucker have similar growing pains?

Zucker-Crosby Duo Clicks Early

As of now, the answer seems to be ‘no.’ Goals are what is expected when you’re playing alongside Sid the Kid, and Zucker has delivered in that regard through five games, potting three pucks and adding an apple. While his early advanced statistics aren’t hot (a long-term CF% of 46 is not going to cut it), the production via the eye test is encouraging, to say the least. He also has a reputation as a two-way player, a pedigree demonstrated by his high-danger goals for percentage (HDGF%), a metric which measures goals for and against from high-percentage areas while you’re on the ice. In his last three full seasons with Minnesota in which he played 79, 82 and 81 games, Zucker recorded HDGF% of 75.93, 67.86 and 53.85.

Pittsburgh Penguins Jason Zucker Sidney Crosby
Is Jason Zucker the answer for the Penguins? (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

The former two are especially eye-raising. The quandary of HDGF% is the number is often influenced by goaltending so it is at least possible that good or mediocre net protection can influence the number but not to the degree of a 75.93 or 67.86, well above the expected 50/50 threshold. In comparison, the only players in that ballpark this season play for powerhouse clubs (Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning) or play defense (players such as Nashville Predators stars Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis). Zucker, meanwhile, recorded a 75.93 and 67.86 while playing for the Wild. That’s simply mind-blowing and the sample size is too large to be a coincidence nor convenience. Zucker has that high a ceiling.

Looking Ahead

Given Zucker’s defensive accountability, expect whatever line he’s on to hold its own on a regular basis. Coach Mike Sullivan has already said he plans to move him around after starting him on Crosby’s line. While Zucker’s best fit on the team now is likely as Sid’s wingman, come next season Zucker may find himself paired with Evgeni Malkin as Jake Guentzel returns to his rightful spot alongside Crosby. Winger Dominik Simon, despite his lack of scoring, is a blessing in the top-six and it seems the Penguins know it.

Jason Zucker
Zucker’s two-way game is a powder keg waiting to explode (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Regardless of the course that occurs, Zucker provides the Penguins with a long-term piece and another strong top-six forward. It is indeed time for another playoff run and if the early results are any indication, Zucker is no Brassard. He’s something much more volatile than that.

  • Tags
  • 2020 NHL Trade Deadline
  • Jason Zucker
  • Sidney Crosby
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 25th 6:30 PM
Archives

San Jose Sharks Coaching History

Jan 25th 6:15 PM
Fantasy

4 Bounceback Candidates for the 2020-21 Fantasy Hockey Season

Jan 25th 6:13 PM
Archives

Blackhawks & Chelios: Together Again

Jan 25th 5:50 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Power-Play Strategy: A Wayne Simmonds’ Net-Front Statue

Jan 25th 5:40 PM
Ottawa Senators

Senators Loading Up Top Line Is a Mistake

Jan 25th 5:30 PM
Buffalo Sabres

3 Sabres Takeaways From Shootout Win Over the Capitals

Jan 25th 5:03 PM
Archives

Edmonton Oilers Jersey History

Jan 25th 4:25 PM
Column

NHL Players of the Week: Kopitar, Varlamov & More

Jan 25th 4:15 PM
Editor's Choice

A Look Back: Grading the Canes’ 2014 Draft Class

Jan 25th 3:45 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Weekly: Injuries, Milestones and Armstrong

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information