New York Rangers: The best undrafted players in franchise history
By Steve Paulus
#3 – Mats Zuccarello
The headlines in 2010 called him Mats Zuccarello Aasen and “the Hobbit.” The 22 year old had exploded offensively in 2009-10, named Swedish Elite League MVP with 23 goals and 64 points in 55 games. The only knock on him was his size, but his success as a youngster in one of the top professional leagues in the world was reason enough for Glen Sather to take a flyer on him.
His first two seasons were a struggle as he split time between the Rangers and the AHL. During the lockout of 2012-13 he got valuable playing time in the KHL, but still only played in 15 games under John Tortorella after play resumed.
It was under new coach Alain Vigneault that Zuccarello blossomed into the offensive force that has made him one of the most beloved players in NHL history. His creativity with the puck and a feistiness that belies his size has endeared him to the Garden faithful. He has led the team in scoring four out of the last five years while averaging 18 goals per season.
It’s not unreasonable to point to the head injury that knocked him out of the 2015 playoffs as the key reason that they Rangers lost the Conference Final to Tampa and their best shot at a Stanley Cup in two decades.
A free agent next season, the anticipation is that Zuccarello will be dealt at the trade deadline next spring. It will be a sad day in New York when the heart and soul of the current New York Rangers departs.