Sabres Extend Jason Zucker 2 years 4.75 million AAV

[LabattBlue]

2 year deal with a 5 mil cap hit for a guy who is in the “could hit the wall at any time” age range.   Meh.  

[Rasmus_]

Well the AAV is lower than I expected, so that's fine.  Zucker has been a decent addition.  He's happy to be here, and he works hard.  I'm fine with this.  

[darksabre]

Congrats to the Sabres on having two whole hockey players (80% of the time).

[Drag0nDan]

Just now, Rasmus_ said:

Well the AAV is lower than I expected, so that's fine.  Zucker has been a decent addition.  He's happy to be here, and he works hard.  I'm fine with this.  

Yeah, i think this is pretty much roughly the price for a 20G scoring winger.  

[DarthEbriate]

28 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

nice contract...good player.

He doesn't need to score like he did this season; if he can continue to play like he has this season -- engaged, aggressive, and responsible across any line he's deployed on (Zucker's "line" has often been the Sabres' best line all year), then is an excellent signing. Yes, the speed will drop off at some point, but if they get two more years like this year's Zucker, this is an excellent move.

I want Benson learning from Zucker (moreso than from say, Okposo's game toward the end)

[matter2003]

2 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

He doesn't need to score like he did this season; if he can continue to play like he has this season -- engaged, aggressive, and responsible across any line he's deployed on (Zucker's "line" has often been the Sabres' best line all year), then is an excellent signing. Yes, the speed will drop off at some point, but if they get two more years like this year's Zucker, this is an excellent move.

I want Benson learning from Zucker (moreso than from say, Okposo's game toward the end)

Zucker is a "pro's pro".  Same with Greenway. You don't want to lose players like that when you desperately need more of those kind of players.

[SabreFinn]

This is a good extension, AAV is pretty much where I hoped it would be. So are the two years.

[Sidc3000]

29 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

fire the bad coaches

Is it bad coaches or is it young players that feel they are better than what their coaches are telling them? At times, it looks like they purposely do the opposite what Lindy wants.

[darksabre]

3 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

Is it bad coaches or is it young players that feel they are better than what their coaches are telling them? At times, it looks like they purposely do the opposite what Lindy wants.

Good, veteran players come here and keep playing the game the right way without any issue.

I think the younger players on this team are uniquely stupid. They might have talent, but they have not caught up to the mental aspect of things that the NHL requires. Concentration, discipline, seeing the game at speed. You can't really coach that.

I think a team can absorb a certain quantity of dumb guys. I don't think it can have as many as this team has.

[HumanSlinky39]

Good move and pretty much a no-brainer.

[triumph_communes]

Perfect

[Archie Lee]

With Greenway and Zucker signed, if we just give conservative extensions to our RFA's (Peterka, McLeod, Quinn, Byram, Bernard-Docker, Levi), we will be right up against the cap.

Are we going to be a cap team next year?  Or is someone getting moved?

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

I would have choked on 3x$6.

This goes down better, but we're still getting fooled by an outlier year amplified by the mess around him.

My hot take is he will not live up to this contract: 30-something points next year and an afterthought the year after.

Zucker is one of the few players who plays a tough brand of hockey and offers some net presence on offense, especially on the PP. A 2 year deal is reasonable; a 3 year deal would have been problematic. This team needs veterans who wants to be here. I'm fine with it. Not a major move but a solid move. 

[Pimlach]

His age is a concern to me but he had a good year and I hope they can squeeze another good year out of him.  

[Crusader1969]

No issue at all with this 

Need another Zucker / Greenway addition.   Really need 1 more player on the bottom line since they missed with the 2 UFAs they signed last offseason to fill that role 

 

[Thorner]

4 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

No issue at all with this 

Need another Zucker / Greenway addition.   Really need 1 more player on the bottom line since they missed with the 2 UFAs they signed last offseason to fill that role 

 

They need better if they can get it 

Was supposed to be no stone unturned, playoffs or bust LAST offseason 

Edited Friday at 06:42 PM by Thorner

[LGR4GM]

This seems fine. If his game falls off it doesn't hurt you long term and he's still tradeable as well. 

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Brawndo said:

3 years 6 million AAV? 

Tell me why this is the worst move ever by Adams.

[GoPuckYourself]

Solid re-sign, Not a bad contract or term. Finally Adams did a few things right!

[Believer]

The fact both Greenway and Zucker chose to stay with the Sabres when both were pursued by contenders and likely could have made comparable money speaks well to other SC/Playoff veterans Adams will pursue this offseason.

Hoping Adams still delivers on his big trade reshaping our top six and a RHD.

 

[Night Train]

At least they did one thing right today. Should have made more moves than Cozens for a All-Whirlpool player. Too many operations. 

Adams sucks. .

[kas23]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

His age is a concern to me but he had a good year and I hope they can squeeze another good year out of him.  

It seems when we have older players on the Sabres, we fear they may be a liability. When similarly aged players are on SC contenders, they are considered an asset. The right players, regardless of age benefit teams. 

[Pimlach]

18 minutes ago, kas23 said:

It seems when we have older players on the Sabres, we fear they may be a liability. When similarly aged players are on SC contenders, they are considered an asset. The right players, regardless of age benefit teams. 

Ok.  But it’s rare the forwards 33 years of age keep going strong, but some do.  

[Huckleberry]

Im good with this

[PerreaultForever]

I guess Adams is sure he won't be able to lure any free agents of note here in July. This is a gross overpay for a fading veteran who is injury prone. I don't hate Zucker. He's better than a lot of them, but this is not progress. 

They better hire some extra rehab and medical people the way they are building this team.