A look at Jason Zucker from Wild’s point of view — on and off the ice

What are the Penguins really getting in former Minnesota Wild player Jason Zucker?

On one hand, it appears that the recently acquired forward is the most simple guy in the world.

Pretty much every scouting report you hear is the same thing. A straight-ahead winger. Fast. Good shot. Honest. Good feet. Good worker.

But have the Penguins gotten a player whose 33 goals in a 2018 contract year were as good as it is going to get for his career?

Concerns exist in that regard because his production dipped last year and he has been up, down, and injured this year.

To the point that he was on the fourth line at times.

Conversely, at 28, maybe Zucker is an untapped resource that has more offense to give playing with a high-end center such as Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.

On that front, because of his speed and renowned “good guy in the room” reputation, a lot of people assume he’ll be a perfect fit to play with Crosby.

I’ve heard others wonder if the simplicity of his game we just praised will fall short in the creativity department for Crosby’s liking.

One thing that’s never been doubted about Zucker is his character. A King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner, he’s regarded as one of the best people off the ice in the league, and no one has a bad thing to say about him.

Well, perhaps aside from one-time general manager Paul Fenton. According to our podcast guest today, Dave Schwartz of KARE-TV in Minnesota, Fenton was no fan of Zucker’s. He even apparently grumbled about Zucker’s wife (Carly) who was perhaps too much of a media presence for Fenton’s liking.

She even lobbed a social media shot at Fenton, after he tried to swing the original Zucker trade with Jim Rutherford for Phil Kessel last summer.

Oh, yeah. And then there’s that contract.

At $5.5 million per year through 2023, it could be viewed as a steal if Zucker plays well. Or it could be the equivalent to the deadweight assumed on contracts in recent years for Alex Galchenyuk and Nick Bjugstad.

So what’s the real picture on Zucker? Based on what you’ll hear in this interview and what you’ll see in his social media, Schwartz knows Zucker well.

Thanks Zuck! In my 19 years I’ve never covered an athlete that was as pleasant to deal with that you @jason_zucker16. This deal is a tough one to swallow. I hope Pittsburgh knows how good of a guy they’re getting. And I hope you win 50 Stanley Cups. Best of luck buddy! pic.twitter.com/jH7MS8kwfk

— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) February 11, 2020

Yes. I’m ok with the trade. I do feel like it was a win-win. It’s been hard for me to separate myself from the deal. But the Wild did what they needed to do: Got some good draft picks, prospects and expiring contracts. https://t.co/rnYpWN00FI

— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) February 11, 2020

For those asking...On a business level, I get it. On a personal level, I hate it. @Jason_Zucker16 is one of the best guys I’ve covered. He’s the consummate pro and fantastic in the community. But he was the Wilds best asset. I hope he wins a cup in Pittsburgh. https://t.co/nDR7CcAuML

— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) February 11, 2020

True to their word, @Jason_Zucker16 and @CarlyAplin are continuing their #GIVE16 campaign. Their game hat sales go on despite Jason’s trade. Proceeds from the sales go to their #GIVE16 charity which helps those at @UMNChildrens pic.twitter.com/yQZ9AMSaY6

— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) February 12, 2020

He paints a really fine picture of Zucker. But he also tells us why a situation that was once so good for him in Minnesota resulted in a player getting traded when many believed that he would play his whole career with one franchise.

Listen: Tim Benz gets the Minnesota perspective on the Jason Zucker trade from Dave Schwartz, a sports reporter who covers the Wild