Jason Zucker didn't particularly enjoy playing against the Arizona Coyotes last season.
That resonated so much, in fact, it was one of the reasons he ultimately signed with the team.
Zucker faced a good portion of Arizona's lineup while playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, posting two goals and one assist in two games against the Coyotes. The Penguins ultimately won both games -- and Zucker performed well individually -- but something stuck with him about facing Arizona:
The Coyotes were notoriously hard to play against.
"Playing them last year, they're not easy games," Zucker said. "Every game that they play, their style of play, they're a very competitive, very good team. I'm hoping I can come in and bring a great aspect of my game to the roster and hopefully help win some hockey games."
That wasn't the only thing that attracted him to the desert, either. Zucker played 78 games last season, the most since he logged 60 in 2019-20, and said his discussions with Coyotes General Manager Bill Armstrong were also instrumental in his decision-making process.
His 27 goals and 21 assists marked his most productive output since he recorded 64 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2017-18, and he credited his overall health as a big reason for that offensive resurgence.
That production, coupled with his style of play, made him an attractive player to pursue when the free agency signing period opened up, and Armstrong wasted no time reaching out to the veteran forward.
"It's a good feeling when teams are very interested in you and want you to be a part of their organization," Zucker said. "That definitely went heavily into my decision, but on the flip side, when you look at this roster, there's some amazing talent on it, and they are not far off from being a very good team."
Pittsburgh's trip to Mullett Arena on Jan. 8 last season was a memorable one, and Zucker recalled how much he and his teammates enjoyed playing at Arizona's temporary home. He said the experience was so enjoyable that he texted his dad following the game to emphasize just how impressed he was from start to finish.
It wasn't just the in-game experiences, either, as he said the locker rooms and pregame warm-up areas outside the state-of-the-art annex were something the entire team enjoyed.
Now he'll be on the other side of the famed Mullett Magic, and he's excited to get to work in The Valley.
"Ultimately, as professional hockey players, the atmosphere is more a part of it than the arena itself, and I thought the atmosphere there was awesome," Zucker said. "For the teams that come in, it's like, 'Wow, this is, this is great.' You get some sunshine warming up before the game. It's unlike anything we get to do in Pittsburgh or any other arena for that matter.
"It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed that experience."
The Newport Beach, Calif. native is part of an impressive offseason haul that Armstrong brought in, which includes defensemen Sean Durzi and Troy Stecher, as well as forwards Alex Kerfoot and Nick Bjugstad. Zucker's game compliments the Coyotes' identity, bringing a gritty-yet-skilled style of play to a team that's forged its identity over the past two seasons as one that's hard-working and difficult to play against.
Zucker credited his overall health last season for his strong offensive output, as he appeared in 78 games after injuries limited him to a combined 79 games in the two seasons prior.
"You always want to be out there battling with your teammates and playing in the games we all live for. There's nothing like that feeling of putting on a jersey in the NHL and being able to play under the lights," Zucker said. "I felt absolutely incredible last year. It's the best I've felt my whole career and I'm really excited for this upcoming season."
With 12 seasons and 628 games under his belt, Zucker is also stepping into a leadership role on the team as one of the oldest and most tenured NHL players on the roster. That's likely to pay dividends for the Coyotes, who have 10 players on their current roster that are 26-or-under.
Coming from a Penguins team that had seven regularly rostered players that were older than him - including superstar players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin - Zucker is excited to take on a more senior role in Arizona.
"Being the oldest guy on the team is a little bit bizarre," he said with a laugh. "I've taken pride in my leadership for years, even on an older team. Pittsburgh, obviously when you have a guy like Sidney Crosby, Jeff Carter, and Jeff Petry -- and the list goes on and on -- you've got guys that also are leading with you.
"I don't expect it to be any different when it comes to this team when you have guys like Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Lawson Crouse. Even though they're still young they've been around the league, they know how to play the game the right way. It's definitely something that's going to be leadership by committee."
As the summer begins to wind down, Zucker has enjoyed his time with family while also participating in Da Beauty League in Minnesota, and unsurprisingly is tied for the team lead with five goals and five assists in three games.
The league features plenty of other NHLers, including fellow Coyotes forward Travis Boyd, and offers an opportunity to stay sharp during the offseason.
Zucker is not far away from arriving in Arizona, though, where he'll now take a prominent role on a team that was hard to play against just one season ago.
He can't wait to get going.
"I'm a pretty fun-loving guy that just wants to have some fun and enjoy my time, but when I get on the ice, I play a certain style that can be pretty annoying to other teams with hitting and the occasional fight here and there," Zucker said. "For me, it's just all about enjoying my time there, and I think everyone will see that pretty quick just how much I enjoy playing the game, and how much that means to me.
"I think the fans are going to have a lot of fun being a part of that."
