New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent forward Mats Zuccarello on a new contract.
Zuccarello, 25, registered three goals and five assists in 15 games last season after signing with the Rangers on March 28. He tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in the final seven games of the season, including a two-goal effort on April 18 against Florida. Zuccarello finished the season tied for fifth on the team with a career-high, plus-10 rating. He also ranked second on the team with career-highs in playoff assists (six) and playoff points (seven) while skating in 12 postseason contests.
Zuccarello has skated in 67 career regular season contests over three seasons with the Rangers, registering 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points, along with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating. He originally signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 26, 2010. In 2010-11, Zuccarello tied for the team lead and tied for fourth among NHL rookies with nine power play assists. He also tied for fifth in the league with five shootout goals and second with three game-deciding goals in the shootout that season.
The 5-7, 179-pounder has also skated in 73 career regular season games over two seasons with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL), registering 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points, along with 38 penalty minutes. Zuccarello made his North American debut with Connecticut on October 9, 2010, against Charlotte.
The Oslo, Norway native began last season with Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), registering 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, along with 30 penalty minutes in 44 games. He tied for fifth on Metallurg in goals, and ranked sixth on the team in points and assists. He also tied for second on the team in playoff goals (two), third in playoff points (four), and fourth in playoff assists (two) in seven postseason contests.
Zuccarello previously skated in two seasons with MODO of the Swedish Elite League (SEL), registering 35 goals and 69 assists for 104 points, along with 100 penalty minutes in 90 career regular season games. In 2009-10, he captured the Guldhjälmen award as the league’s Most Valuable Player after leading the SEL in scoring with 64 points in 55 games. Zuccarello has also represented Norway in several international tournaments, including at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.