Anaheim Ducks Should Trade for Jason Zucker

It seems to happen every season that a player’s name makes the rounds as being available for trade and it causes more questions than answers. Jason Zucker is the latest of those players to have that distinction and I think the Anaheim Ducks should make a pitch to the Minnesota Wild to acquire his services.

Paul Fenton has spent a majority of his time as General Manager of the Minnesota Wild building the team to fit his vision. We’ve seen him move out several mainstays from the Wild in the past season, trading Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, and Nino Niederreiter and he doesn’t appear to be finished yet. Jason Zucker‘s name has been making the rounds as being available for trade, his name was brought up at the deadline and it appeared a trade to the Calgary Flames was all but complete, a trade that saw Jason Zucker going to Calgary and Michael Frolik and a draft pick (reportedly as high as a first rounder) going to Minnesota. The trade fell apart at the last minute, leaving Zucker as a member of the Wild and a whole lot of “what if” scenarios. Now that the season is finished for the Wild, Zucker’s name is back as a hot topic, and I want him on the Anaheim Ducks.

Zucker’s name has been mentioned as being a part of a trade to Pittsburgh for Phil Kessel, his name has also popped up in discussions with Calgary again, Vegas, Arizona as well as a couple of other teams with fewer specifics details. So who is Jason Zucker and why should the Ducks throw their hat in the ring?

Zucker is a 27-year-old left-handed winger currently part of the Minnesota Wild franchise. Drafted 59th overall in the 2010 Entry draft, he has spent his entire career to this point with the Wild franchise. Zucker plays a game that would mesh quite well with the Ducks, in my opinion, he plays a hard-nosed game despite being a smaller forward. He’s not the best player defensively but offensively he makes a habit of making something out of nothing. Zucker has a nose for the net and despite not having the hardest or most accurate shot in the world is dangerous with the puck on his stick.

Zucker just finished the first year of a 5 year contract that sees him paid 5.5 million per year and he has a modified no-trade-clause (a 10 team no-trade list) Zucker has 214 points in 411 career NHL games and has had 3 straight 20 goal seasons including a career-high 33 goals two seasons ago. Zucker benefits heavily from playing with a center who can put the puck on his stick in a dangerous area, something that could make him a great fit for Getzlaf who has made a habit of elevating his teammate’s games.

Trading for Zucker wouldn’t come cheap but he’s someone who could really add to the Ducks offense and potentially be one of the top goal-scorers on a team heavily devoid of them. It would likely cost the Ducks a 1st round pick and a roster player or mid-range prospect.

The Ducks would get a potential 30 goal scorer at the expense of a middle 6 forward and a late first round pick. The Wild would gain some cap room and the Ducks would fill a massive team-need.

Overall Jason Zucker is a player I’ve admired the past few years and as someone entering his prime, I think he could thrive as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. It’d be a hefty price, but a price that I think the Ducks could comfortably pay. What do you think? Would you like to see Jason Zucker in a Ducks jersey?

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