Mats Zuccarello Signed to Contract Extension
Zuccarello, 27, has skated in 59 games with the Rangers this season, registering 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points, along with a plus-13 rating and 35 penalty minutes. He ranks second on the Rangers in takeaways (46), is tied for third in game-winning goals (three) and even strength assists (18), ranks fourth in assists and shots on goal (127), ranks fifth in points, power play assists (five), and hits (95), ranks sixth in plus/minus rating, and is tied for sixth in goals. Zuccarello posted a career-high seven-game point streak from Jan. 31 - Feb. 12, 2015, and tied his career-high by posting a five-game assist streak from Jan. 31 - Feb. 8, 2015. He registered his 100th career NHL point by tallying the game-winning goal on Nov. 11, 2014 vs. Pittsburgh, and he skated in his 200th career NHL game on Feb. 22, 2015 vs. Columbus.
Zuccarello has skated in 203 career NHL games over parts of five NHL seasons, all with the Rangers, registering 42 goals and 86 assists for 128 points, along with a plus-37 rating and 85 penalty minutes. The Oslo, Norway native has tallied more goals, assists, and points than any other Norwegian-born player in NHL history, and he is five games shy of becoming the all-time leader in games played by a Norwegian-born player. In 2013-14, Zuccarello led the Rangers with a career-high 59 points, and tied for the team lead with a career-high 40 assists. He also received the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award last season for being the player who, as chosen by the fans, "goes above and beyond the call of duty".
The 5-8, 179-pounder has appeared in the playoffs in three different years during his NHL career. In 38 career NHL playoff games, Zuccarello has recorded six goals and 14 assists for 20 points, along with a plus-five rating and 26 penalty minutes. In the 2014 playoffs, he established playoff career-highs in games played (25), goals (five), assists (eight), points (13), and plus/minus rating (plus-seven) while helping the Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Zuccarello tied for second on the team in plus/minus rating, tied for third in assists, tied for fourth in goals and points, and ranked fifth in shots on goal (54) and hits (54) in last year's playoffs.
Internationally, Zuccarello has represented Norway in several tournaments. Most recently, he skated in three games during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He has represented Norway in two Olympic Games (2010, 2014), and has tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in seven career Olympic contests.
Zuccarello signed with the Rangers as a free agent on Mar. 28, 2013. He originally signed with the Blueshirts as an undrafted free agent on May 26, 2010.
