| Jason Zucker | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Zucker with thePittsburgh Penguins in 2020 | |||
| Born | (1992-01-16)January 16, 1992 (age 33) Newport Beach,California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Buffalo Sabres Minnesota Wild Pittsburgh Penguins Arizona Coyotes Nashville Predators | ||
| NHL draft | 59th overall,2010 Minnesota Wild | ||
| Playing career | 2012–present | ||
Jason Alan Zucker[1] (born January 16, 1992) is an American professionalice hockeyleft winger for theBuffalo Sabres of theNational Hockey League (NHL).
Zucker played in the2010 World Juniors for the United States team, winning agold medal. He was also a member of thebronze medal-winning team at the2011 World Juniors. Playing for theUniversity of Denver in 2010–11, he was theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year. He was drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the2010 NHL entry draft by theMinnesota Wild.
Zucker was born inNewport Beach, California, and isJewish.[2][3] His mother, Natalie Zucker, is a former competitivefigure skater, and his father, Scott Zucker, is ageneral contractor who builtice rinks androller rinks when Jason was young.[4] He has two older brothers, Evan and Adam, and a younger sister, Kimmie, and brother, Cameron.[5][6]
When he was two months old, Zucker and his family moved toLas Vegas,Nevada.[7] As a youth, he played in the 2004 and 2005Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with aminor ice hockey team fromLos Angeles.[8] He moved toPlymouth, Michigan, when he was 15 so he could play with the Compuware AAA Minor Midget Team, and finally toAnn Arbor, Michigan, for two years.[9] Zucker attendedPioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[10]
Zucker has multiple tattoos: on his back, "USA" (a nod to his playing for the national team); on his chest, "Game Time" (in memory of his best friend, Nick Scheafer, who died in 2010 at the age of 19 in a car accident); and on his left arm, written in Hebrew, "In pursuit of perfection" (in honor of his Jewish heritage). In 2016, he got a young cancer patient's name, Tucker, who he met at Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night, tattooed onto his wrist, along with the words "shoot more" in memory of the boy who died on July 2, 2016.[11]
Playing for theUniversity of Denver in 2010–11, he was theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and 2nd All-Star Team.[12] In his two seasons playing for Denver, he had 45 goals and 91 points in 78 games. He turned pro following the 2011–12 season.[3]
Zucker was drafted by theMinnesota Wild of theNational Hockey League (NHL) in the second round (59th overall) of the2010 NHL Draft. He was the first Nevada-raised draft pick (and, subsequently, player) in NHL history.[13] Zucker signed his entry-level contract with the Wild on March 27, 2012.[14] He made his NHL debut in a victory against theFlorida Panthers on March 29, 2012.[15] The2012–13 NHL season was delayed by the2012–13 NHL lockout and Zucker was assigned to Minnesota'sAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, theHouston Aeros, where he registered 50 points in 55 games.[16] He played in the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic, representing the Aeros.[17] Zucker was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after leading the Aeros in scoring with 24 goals.[18]
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Zucker was recalled by Minnesota[18] and appeared in 20 regular season games with Minnesota, playing mostly on the team's second line alongsideMatt Cullen andDevin Setoguchi.[19] He scored his first NHL goal againstPetr Mrázek on February 17, 2013, in a Wild win over theDetroit Red Wings.[20] On May 5, 2013, Zucker scored at 2:15 of the extra period to give the Wild a 3–2 victory over theChicago Blackhawks, to pull within 2–1 in the Western Conference quarterfinal series.[21] However, the Blackhawks eliminated the Wild in five games.[22]
On March 26, 2014, Zucker underwent successful surgery on his leftquadriceps to repair atendon. He missed the remainder of the 2013–14 season, but was ready for the start of the 2014–15 campaign.[23] In 2014–15 he scored 21 goals in 51 games, and was tenth in the NHL with a 16.9% shooting percentage. On October 25, 2015, he set a Wild team record by scoring 10 seconds into a 5–4 loss to theWinnipeg Jets (Zucker later tied his own record in a game against theColorado Avalanche in April 2017).[24] The only other NHL players who have scored within the first 10 seconds of two different games are Montreal'sBobby Rousseau (once in 1962–63, and once in 1965–66) andYvan Cournoyer (both in 1973–74).[citation needed]
In 2015–16 he played in a career-high 71 games, and had 13 goals and 10 assists. In June 2016, the Wild re-signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract.[25] During the 2016–17 season, Zucker set new career highs once again by playing in 79 games while recording 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points. He finished tied for sixth in team scoring.[citation needed] Zucker recorded his first NHLhat-trick on November 9, 2017, against theMontreal Canadiens.[26] On May 2, 2018, Zucker was named a finalist for theKing Clancy Memorial Trophy, along withP. K. Subban, and the Sedin brothers.[27]
On July 25, 2018, Zucker signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension with the Wild. Zucker scored his 100th NHL goal on October 13, 2018, in a home overtime loss against theCarolina Hurricanes.[28] He is the seventh Minnesota Wild player to record 100 goals with the team.[29] Zucker received the 2018–19 King Clancy Memorial Trophy as "the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."[30]
In his career with the Wild, in 456 NHL games he had 132 goals (fourth on the Wild's all-time list), 111 assists, and 243 points (9th).[30]
On February 10, 2020, Zucker was traded by the Wild to thePittsburgh Penguins in exchange forCalen Addison,Alex Galchenyuk, and a conditional first round pick in the2020 NHL entry draft (condition within the trade later converted the pick to a first round pick in the2021 NHL entry draft).[31] Zucker was under contract with the Penguins for three years, through the 2022–23 season, for an average annual value of $5.5 million.[30][32] He made his Penguins debut on February 11 in a 2–1 loss to theTampa Bay Lightning, playing on a line withSidney Crosby.[33] He scored his first two goals in a Penguins uniform againstCarey Price in a 4–1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on February 14.[34] Zucker later made his Penguins playoff debut against the Canadiens on August 1 in Game 1 of their first round series.[35] He scored in a Game 2 win for the Penguins to tie the series,[36] but the Canadiens eliminated the Penguins to move on to the next round.[37]
In thepandemic-shortened2020–21 season, Zucker struggled, scoring eight goals and 17 points.[38] In the2021–22 season, Zucker suffered a number of injuries that limited him to just 32 games before coming back in March. In his first game back, and his first game against his former team, the Minnesota Wild, Zucker was injured again.[39] He finished the season having played just 41 games.[38] During the 2022–23 season, Zucker appeared in 78 games, the most since the 2018–19 season. Playing mostly on the second line, Zucker scored 27 goals and 48 points.[40]
Having concluded his contract with the Penguins, Zucker was signed as a free agent to a one-year, $5.3 million contract with the Arizona Coyotes on July 1, 2023.[41][42] He made his Coyotes debut in the season-openingshootout victory over theNew Jersey Devils.[43][44] He scored his first goal with Arizona on October 19 on a pass fromMatias Maccelli on thepower play in a 6–2 victory over theSt. Louis Blues.[45] On January 2, 2024,Nick Cousins of theFlorida Panthers laid a dangerouscheck on Zucker's teammate,Juuso Välimäki near theboards. Zucker retaliated by checking Cousins hard into the boards, giving Cousins a concussion.[46] On the play, Zucker received three majorpenalties and was suspended for three games on January 3 forboarding.[47] In 51 games with Arizona, he had nine goals and 25 points.[48]
On March 8, 2024, at the NHL trading deadline, Zucker was traded to theNashville Predators in exchange for a2024 sixth-round draft pick.[49][50] He made his Predators debut on March 9 in a 2–1 victory over theColumbus Blue Jackets.[51] He scored his first goal for Nashville on March 13, knocking in a rebound from aColton Sissons shot in a 4–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.[52] He registered a multi-goal game on March 28, scoring twice against his former team, the Arizona Coyotes, in an 8–4 loss.[53] In 18 games with the Predators, he recorded five goals and seven points.[54] Nashville made the2024 Stanley Cup playoffs and faced theVancouver Canucks in the first round.[55] The Predators were eliminated in six games and Zucker scored one goal and three points in the series.[54]
On July 1, 2024, Zucker signed as a free agent to a one-year, $5 million contract with theBuffalo Sabres.[56] Zucker signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Sabres on March 7, 2025.[57]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing United States | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| IIHF World U18 Championship | ||
 | 2009 United States | |
| 2010 Belarus | |
| World Junior Hockey Championships | ||
| 2010 Canada | |
 | 2011 United States | |
Zucker played for theUnited States junior team in the2009 World Juniors and2010 World Juniors, winning agold medal in 2010.[58] He was also a member of thebronze medal-winning team at the2011 World Juniors.[59]
Zucker married Minneapolis-based sports and entertainment journalist and television personality Carly Aplin in mid 2016.[60][61] She is a television host for the Minnesota Timberwolves Entertainment Network (TEN) and a reporter for CBS Sports and Fox Sports North, who in February 2018 premiered a sports talk radio show named "Overtime with Carly Zucker" onKFAN 100.3 FM.[62] Jason and Carly have a son and a daughter together.[25] They filed for divorce in 2023.[63]
Zucker is Jewish, though not religious. He did not have abar mitzvah celebration because he never wanted to miss hockey; however, he does celebrateHanukkah.[64]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2008–09 | U.S. NTDP U17 | USDP | 12 | 8 | 6 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2008–09 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 12 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | U.S. NTDP U18 | NAHL | 36 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | U.S. NTDP Juniors | USHL | 22 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 38 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | University of Denver | WCHA | 40 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | University of Denver | WCHA | 38 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Houston Aeros | AHL | 55 | 24 | 26 | 50 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 20 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Iowa Wild | AHL | 22 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 21 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 51 | 21 | 5 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 71 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 79 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 82 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 81 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 45 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 15 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 38 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 41 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 78 | 27 | 21 | 48 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 51 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 18 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 73 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 770 | 217 | 206 | 423 | 394 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 12 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | United States | U17 |  | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2009 | United States | U18 |  | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2010 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2010 | United States | U18 | | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2011 | United States | WJC | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | United States | WJC | 7th | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 37 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 10 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| All-WCHA Rookie Team | 2010–11 | |
| All-WCHA Second Team | 2010–11,2011–12 | |
| AHCA West Second-Team All-American | 2011–12 | |
| WCHA All-Tournament Team | 2012 | [65] |
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2013 | [17] |
| All-Rookie Team | 2013 | [18] |
| NHL | ||
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy | 2019 | [66] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | WCHA Rookie of the Year 2010–11 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner 2019 | Succeeded by |