ESPN just released a tier list of NHL free agents to be, and I couldn't help but get sentimental when scrolling all the way down to Tier No. 4 which looked as "best bets". The New York Rangers need help in the top six, and they don't have many great options.
The ideal scenario remains adding a bona fide top line option that pushes an existing roster player down the depth chart, but their next best option would be targeting a plug and play option that could exist on any of the top three lines. While I don't expect this transaction to come to fruition, it would be really cool to bring back Mats Zuccarello for one last run on Broadway.
Zuccarello remains productive years after trade away from Rangers
Zuccarello got his start with the New York Rangers all the way back in 2010, and he is still a very productive player. He just finished his age 38 season with Minnesota, and he finished with 15 goals, 39 assists, and 54 points in 59 games. He had 54 points in 69 games the year prior, and that means he was even more efficient this past season. Since joining the Wild, Zuccarello has tallied a line of 118-271-389 in 452 games, which equates to 0.86 points per game. That's an increase from the 0.69 points per game, 113-239-352 in 509 games, he averaged with New York.
If you look at Zuccarello's last five seasons, he has finished with point totals of 79, 67, 63, 54, and 54. Had he been a member of this year's team. Zuccarello would have been fourth on the Blueshirts in scoring ahead of J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, and just behind Alexis Lafrenière, Artemi Panarin (traded at deadline), and Mika Zibanejad.
He'd be perfect fit for middle of the lineup and great mentor for the kids
Zuccarello is one the league's more underrated playmakers, and is someone that could be a great teacher for some of the youngsters on the roster like Gabe Perreault. Not many expected the 5'8" and 181 pound Zuccarello to have the longevity he has had, and he is 37 games away from celebrating his 1,000th career regular season game. He also can be quite the pest, and Zuccarello imparting his wisdom on someone like Tye Kartye could be a lot of fun.
There's value to having someone like Zuccarello on the roster as the Rangers attempt to push for the playoffs again, and he'd be an impactful addition in more ways than one. There is always the potential that this is the year that Father Time steps in to slow him down, but that wouldn't matter all that much. More than anything else, this team needs good players who want to win.
Zuccarello broke into the league with the Rangers, and is someone who deserves to be celebrated. Having him around for his 1,000th game, in what could potentially be his final season, would be meaningful to the fans. That, plus whatever contributions he could contribute on the ice. There aren't a ton of great names available in free agency, many top options don't make sense or may sign with other teams, and that's why the Rangers should at the very least see if he'd consider a reunion.
It all hinges on whether or not he's priced out in Minnesota, a team focused on the future and locking up Quinn Hughes among other things, but it is still a dream worth pondering even if it is a longshot. The Wild have a projected roster size of 18 skaters and $12,752,501 space per Puck Pedia, and we will just have to wait and see what happens.
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