Read: Mats Zuccarello-Aasen Doesn’t Have Any Promises
Update: 8:49AM:
So this Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, do you think he’ll be as happy making the jump from Europe to be blocked out of New York and into Hartford where he can count on his $67,500 minor-league salary, as say, Ilkka Heikkinen?
…Heikkinen certainly didn’t have the buzz around him that Zuccarello does. I liked Heik and thought he should have made the team last season, probably over Michael Del Zotto, at the time, but he didn’t really get his chance and is back in Europe. Zuccarello has the Olympics and a bit of a Rangers press tour when he signed backing him up. If he gets beat out in camp it will be one thing, but he isn’t a low-risk type signing for the Rangers who wouldn’t be expected to do anything, he is being looked at as a big player for them
Original Post:
New Ranger Mats Zuccarello-Aasen spoke with a Swedish newspaper about his move to the NHL and says that the Rangers haven’t given him any guarantee he will make the team.
He also says that he talked with former Rangers Niklas Sundstrom and Markus Naslund about the Rangers before signing.
European scout Anders Hedberg speaks highly of Zuccarello in the article.
Thanks to Steve, Jordan W and Sather Sucks for sending this to me.
…Its a bit of a strange piece because he talks of his love for Modo but also for the NHL. I like him a lot and think that he could very well make an impact for this season and help the Rangers. If not, he can go to Hartford and see what happens there and maybe the season after will be his time. He is only 23 and has a lot of time in front of him.
