Mats Zuccarello In The Driver’s Seat

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Mats Zuccarello is going to finally get paid. (Getty Images)

Mats Zuccarello is going to finally get paid. (Getty Images)

Mats Zuccarello is enjoying his summer. An offseason made better knowing that he is line for a hefty pay raise. Last season, he endeared himself to the Garden Faithful, his teammates and the Rangers’ brass. Zucc accomplished that with a never give up attitude and 59 points. Big stuff from the little guy.

His days of one year deals for NHL minimum wage are done. By next Friday (7/25), Zuccarello will be given a 3.5 to 4M arbitration award or sign a deal upwards to 5 years for about 4.5 million per. Bottom line, he’s earned it.

A young Mats Zuccarello (https://hockeybloggen.vg.no)

A young Mats Zuccarello (https://hockeybloggen.vg.no)

From his early days of hockey in Oslo, Norway – the little engine that could has had a passion for sticks, pucks and ice.

THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

I guess every “hobbit” has his journey. For Mats Zuccarello that adventure started when he was just 5 years old playing in the suburbs of Oslo. He is of Sicilian and Norwegian decent. Maybe that hot Italian blood is what makes him so tenacious in the face of NHL giants? He stands in at 5’7″ and 175 pounds. Those numbers are well below the current league average, but don’t tell Mats that because he doesn’t care.

FROM NORWAY TO BROADWAY
Zucc as he is affectionately known, was no “small” player in Europe. He was actually an elite one! He won the “Norwegian Player of the Year Award” twice and was named the Swedish Elite League’s MVP just before signing with the NY Rangers.

He made his debut more than 3 years ago (12/23/10) versus Tampa. Mats became just the 7th Norwegian player in the NHL (the 2nd undrafted). Zucc made an impression by scoring in the shootout and even though the Rangers would eventually lose, his debut was a “small” success.

Coach Tortorella didn’t want him sitting around the Christmas break so he sent him to the AHL. Zucc was recalled on 12/27 verse the Isles where he recorded his first NHL point on an assist in a win. Zuccarello’s first goal game in his 6th game against Cam Ward of the Hurricanes in OT. Then he began to struggle.

As expected, he had a hard time adjusting to the smaller ice rink and faster pace in North America. It led to his reassignment back to the AHL. Of course outside forces like the NHL lockout caused Mats to sign a two year deal with the KHL.

Still, his desire was always to play in the NHL and to be in NY. In March of 2013 he came back to the Rangers and it may just be one of Glen Sather’s better moves.

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

Now at 26, it looks like Zuccarello isn’t just earning his roster spot but challenging the top dogs for more ice time. Mats was easily one of the Rangers most consistent offensive forces.  He was also the team’s spark plug and a big reason the Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Final.

“The Little Ranger That Could” has set a career high in points (59) that he should easily break next season. Mats smile is infectious and his teammates love him. It’s time for the rest of Rangers management to make sure he’s in Rangers Blue for the next few seasons.

By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

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