New York Rangers‘ restricted free agent, right wing Mats Zuccarello(36) inks a one-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL for 2012/2013.
The 24-year old Norwegian forward had signed a 2-year entry level deal through the end of last season and skated 52 NHL games for 8 goals and 18 assists, along with some clutch shootout strikes for Blueshirts’ wins.
In 73 AHL games with Connecticut Whale, he was pretty much a point per game guy at 25 goals and 40 assists.
The 5’7 179 lbs. spark plug winger had an unlucky year with injuries dealing first with an ankle situation that sidelined him for a couple of months. Then when he finally was called up to the Rangers, he was doing ok with a goal and a pair of assists in 10 games and fractured his wrist.
Out for another six weeks during the start of New York’s Stanley Cup Playoff run, he was able to return only near the end of the Eastern Conference Finals but wasn’t used.
We think it’s a bit of a wonder why they don’t just offer him a one-year one-way extension to stay.
