Jason Zucker on fit with Penguins: ‘It’s still a learning curve'

From the first game he played after being acquired via trade from the Minnesota Wild last month, Pittsburgh Penguins wing Jason Zucker has been anything but boastful.

“I don’t think I played very well tonight,” Zucker said after a 2-1 overtime loss to Tampa Bay on Feb. 11. “I thought my hands were terrible. I mishandled pretty much every puck I touched.”

Almost a month into his tenure with the Penguins, Zucker is maintaining that honest and self-deprecating assessment.

“It’s still a learning curve,” Zucker said Friday of his assimilation into the Penguins system, “for sure.”

Zucker has produced during his first 11 games with the Penguins (six goals, five assists). His scoring rates in that sample size are much higher than they had been at any point during his parts of nine seasons with the Wild.

Zucker’s possession metrics have improved, too, since he joined the Penguins — measured both in raw or relative terms. The Penguins have taken 52.9% percent of the 5-on-5 shot attempts when Zucker is on the ice; the Wild were at 47.7% this season with Zucker.

The Penguins are 1.5% better in that category with Zucker on the ice than without him; Minnesota was 1.8% worse with Zucker than without. By almost any statistical measure, he’s been good for the Penguins.

Ripped then tipped.@Jason_Zucker16 tracked that puck down. pic.twitter.com/9aneySL1I7

— NHL (@NHL) February 29, 2020

Perhaps Zucker’s consternation comes from the fact the Penguins are 5-6-1 since he joined the team, though they have won the past two and he has four points in those games.

“It’s definitely a lot better than it was,” Zucker said of fitting in with the Penguins. “I’m still trying to make sure that that flow keeps going and keep gaining chemistry with (linemates Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary).”

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.