Zuccarello became the eighth player from Norway to play in the NHL, and the most successful. The Oslo native is a gifted passer who can create offense with a high-end skill set similar to that of Martin St. Louis, his former teammate with the New York Rangers.
Zuccarello made his way through the ranks in Norway through the Frisk-Asker program, finishing with 34 goals and 59 points in 43 games as a 19-year-old and following that with a 24-goal, 64-point season in 2007-08 before scoring 27 points in 15 playoff games.
Zuccarello became the eighth player from Norway to play in the NHL, and the most successful. The Oslo native is a gifted passer who can create offense with a high-end skill set similar to that of Martin St. Louis, his former teammate with the New York Rangers.
Zuccarello made his way through the ranks in Norway through the Frisk-Asker program, finishing with 34 goals and 59 points in 43 games as a 19-year-old and following that with a 24-goal, 64-point season in 2007-08 before scoring 27 points in 15 playoff games.
He signed with Modo of the Swedish Elite League for the 2008-09 season, finishing with 40 points in 35 games. In his second season, Zuccarello led the league in scoring with 64 points and was named MVP. He also played for Norway at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, scoring one goal and three points in four games.
Zuccarello's performance drew notice from NHL scouts, and he signed with the Rangers on May 26, 2010.
After starting the 2010-11 season in the American Hockey League, Zuccarello made his NHL debut on Dec. 23, 2010 against the Tampa Bay Lightning; he was scoreless during the game but had a successful attempt in the shootout. Zuccarello ended up playing 42 games with the Rangers. He scored his first NHL goal Jan. 5, 2011, beating Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward in overtime.
Zuccarello spent most of 2011-12 in the AHL, where had had 12 goals and 36 points in 37 games. In 10 games with the Rangers, he scored twice and finished with three points. Zuccarello signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League for the 2012-13 season and played 44 games in Russia before re-signing with the Rangers on March 28, 2013. He finished with three goals and eight points in New York's final 15 regular-season games, then had one goal and seven points in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games; the goal came in a 5-0 victory against the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of the first round.
Everything finally came together for Zuccarello in 2013-14. He led New York in scoring with 59 points in 77 games, establishing himself as a top-six forward. He had five goals and 13 points in 25 playoff games and became the first Norwegian-born player to skate in the Stanley Cup Final, though the Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Signed as a free agent by NY Rangers, May 26, 2010.
- Signed as a free agent by Magnitogorsk (KHL), May 26, 2012.
- Signed as a free agent by NY Rangers, March 28, 2013.
