ST. PAUL, Minn. — The reinforcements for the Minnesota Wild are on their way.
One of Minnesota top recent draft choices, Jason Zucker, is ready to make the jump straight from college hockey to the NHL. Zucker, 20, signed an entry-level contract on Tuesday and will join the Wild on Wednesday, just four days after his Denver University team lost in the first-round of the NCAA tournament.
"I am very excited to be a part of the Minnesota Wild organization and to get started tomorrow," Zucker tweeted Tuesday. "Exciting time in my life!"
Zucker had arrived in Minnesota Tuesday evening as the Wild were playing the New York Rangers. Once he passes a physical, he's expected to practice with the team as early as Wednesday and could be in the lineup Thursday when Minnesota hosts the Florida Panthers.
"From my standpoint, and the standpoint of (assistant general manager Brent Flahr) and talking to (coach) Mike Yeo, we thought it would be good for Jason to experience NHL play and see the pace of the play first-hand and familiarize himself with our systems," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "And perhaps more importantly, allow our coaches to get to know Jason as a player. We thought this would be the best developmental opportunity for him going into what's going to be an important summer for him."
Zucker had 22 goals and 24 assists in 38 games as a sophomore for the Pioneers. His 22 goals ranked second in the WCHA and 13th in the NCAA. He also was the Team USA captain at the 2012 World Junior Championships and had 23 goals and 22 assists in 40 games during his WCHA Freshman of the Year season at Denver.
Zucker, selected in the second round (No. 59 overall) of the 2010 NHL draft, is one of two U.S. players to win three gold medals in one calendar year. He won gold at the 2009 and 2010 World Under-18 Championships as well as the 2010 World Junior Championships.
"When we drafted him, I think we saw him as more of an energy player, a guy that could kill penalties and probably be more of a third-line player," Fletcher said. "And obviously in college, he's been more of a first-line player and scored goals. I hope there's elements of both of that in his game, but time will tell. Certainly he can shoot the puck. He skates well and he has a strong work ethic. Ultimately he's a 20-year old prospect who has a lot to learn and is going to have to make a big adjustment here to play in the National Hockey League."
Zucker is just one piece of the young wave of talent soon to be arriving for the Wild. Minnesota was ranked the seventh-best organization in terms of prospects recently by The Hockey News and had five prospects in the top-40. Zucker was listed among the team's top-10 prospects, but wasn't even one of those to appear in the top-40.
Center Mikael Granlund (No. 2 overall), defenseman Jonas Brodin (No. 12), forward Charlie Coyle (No. 14), goaltender Matt Hackett (No. 35) and winger Johan Larsson (No. 38) and forward Brett Bulmer (69th) were in the top-75 with mention also being given to Zucker, forwards Zack Phillips and Mario Lucia, and goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Zucker joins Coyle, Brodin, Larsson, Bulmer and Phillips as the prospects that have already signed entry-level deals in the past year. By appearing in one game for the Wild this season, Zucker would reach free agency one year early than if he waited. He will become a restricted free agent in three years and unrestricted free agency in seven years.
Fletcher wasn't worried about burning a year of eligibility and was focused on getting Zucker the experience to have him ready for the NHL next season if needed.
"None of us have a crystal ball," Fletcher said. "None of us know what the free agency rules will look like in six or seven years or where the player will be at in six or seven years, or where our franchise will be at in six or seven years. It's a long time down the road and there is a lot that's going to change between now and then potentially.
"We're going to start his NHL career now to get him some experience and we're doing what we feel will give him the best chance to be successful next season."
By activating him now, it would stagger the number of players reaching free agency at one time, with as many as seven of the prospects possibly turning pro before next season.
"We still intend on signing a couple more of our players that we already drafted," Fletcher said. "Mikael Granlund being foremost among them."
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