SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild General Manager Paul Fenton today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with restricted free-agent forward Jason Zucker on a five-year, $27.5 million contract ($5 million in 2018-19, $6.25 million in 2019-20, $4.8 million in 2020-21, $6.25 million in 2021-22 and $5.2 million in 2022-23 for a $5.5 million average annual value).
Zucker, 26 (1/16/92), recorded 64 points (33-31=64) and 44 penalty minutes (PIM) in 82 games with Minnesota in 2017-18. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound forward set career highs in games played, goals, assists, points, GWG (7), PPG (7), PIM, shots on goal (222), blocked shots (47), takeaways (54) and TOI/game (16:57). He led the Wild in GWG and takeaways, ranked T-1st in multi-point games (17), second in goals and shots, T-2nd in PPG and third in scoring. Zucker's goal total ranked T-5th in franchise history and T-23rd in the NHL last season. He was named the NHL First Star of the Week on Nov. 13 after scoring six straight team goals for the Wild, one shy of the NHL record, including his first career hat trick on in a 3-0 win at Montreal on Nov. 9.
Zucker was named a finalist for the 2018 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. He and his wife, Carly, began a campaign in 2017-18 to raise funds for the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, growing out of the couple's special relationship with the hospital and its patients. In nine months, the #GIVE16 campaign has raised over $1,000,000.
Zucker has tallied 172 points (97-75=172), a plus-33 rating, 124 PIM and 335 hits in 330 career NHL games in parts of seven seasons with the Wild (2011-18). He owns eight points (4-4=8) in 31 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests. Minnesota selected Zucker in the second round (59th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
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