Zucker signs 1-year contract with Coyotes

Jason Zucker signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. Financial terms were not announced.

The 31-year-old forward had 48 points (27 goals, 21 assists) in 78 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

Zucker said the Coyotes showed immediate interest when free agency began.

"That's a good feeling for any player in this League, knowing that a team wants you, knowing that they want you as part of their organization," Zucker said. "For me, the other side a little bit selfishly, I love the West Coast. Being a (Las) Vegas kid I love the West Coast, I love the desert. I watched the Coyotes a ton growing up because I was playing all throughout the West Coast so I got to see them a lot. Selfishly, I always loved the Kachina jerseys, those things are unbelievable. Just from that side of it, it's great. But a lot of it had to do with how badly they wanted me to be part of the organization and that's a good feeling to have."

Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second round (No. 59) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Zucker has 338 points (182 goals, 156 assists) in 628 regular-season games for the Penguins and Wild and 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 46 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"We are very pleased to welcome Jason to our organization," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said. "He is a proven goal scorer who is quick, has a great shot, and competes hard. He is also great in the community and will be a valuable addition to our forward group."

The Coyotes also signed forward Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract forward Alexander Kerfoot to a two-year contract and defenseman Troy Stecher to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not announced for the signings.

Bjugstad, 30, had 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) in 78 regular-season games for the Edmonton Oilers and Coyotes last season including six points (four goals, two assists) in 19 games after he was acquired in a trade with Arizona on March 2, and three goals in 12 playoff games.

Stecher, 29, had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 81 games with the Coyotes and Calgary Flames. Arizona traded him to Calgary on March 3.

Kerfoot, 28, had 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 82 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had two goals in 11 playoff games.