Article: Mats Zuccarello Is the Wild's Stealth MVP

[Tony Abbott]

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[Citizen Strife]

Zuccarello has been a go-to offensive presence since Kaprizov joined the team.  There was a lot of frustration early, but has completely lived up and exceeded any expectations since.  He was on pace for over 90+ points at one point this year; that is pretty freakish.  I think he'll end his career as one of the Wild's best ever scorers, and I think he deserves a lot of kudos.

[Protec]

Kaprizov and the Norwegian Hobbit! 

 

[Protec]

Little Norwegian Hobbit was quite unexpected.

[Protec]

54 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

"Lizard of Oslo"

 

Pretty good. 

[mnfaninnc]

I'm not sure that I can agree with the headline. Stealth MVP I'm not buying. Key piece on the PP, I'm not really buying either. 

My eye test at 5 on 5 does not say Zuccarello is having a great year. But, he's having an adequate year. 

Some may ask, what are you expecting? For me, I'd like to see that drive to the net and a little more scoring chances in the home plate area. I know it's kind of picky, but I see a lot of button hooks, a lot of perimeter play, and a lot of depending on teammates to take it to the net. 

Could Rossi replace Zuccarello well on PP1? Stats would suggest it's a downgrade at this point. I would suggest that the unit is clicking better since they are moving their feet. All of them are playing better, and as a unit, they have been having more success. 

So, is Zuccarello the driver or the passenger when he's out there? I would suggest he's a useful passenger.

[Patrick]

The eye test tells otherwise. Zuccarello is washed up. He doesn't want to get hit anymore and is turning pucks over at an alarming rate. He still has veteran savvy to score goals and get secondary assists on the PP but he looks done. I've never seen a player throw so many pucks out of the zone on the PP. It's mind boggling. He reminds me of Jason Pominville. Cashing a check as long as possible.

[Eddy]

I’m going to say at 36 he’s driving the offense and getting dirty still…if your expecting more from him I can’t imagine what more your asking for he has over exceeded expectations with his first contract  and now this year he’s been above average and easily a top 6 forward. Reading these comments makes me wonder what are you asking for from a 36 year old making 4 mil a year for the next 2🤦‍♂️ driving play and a near point per game average isn’t enough 🤷‍♂️. He never takes unnecessary penalties, excellent control with the puck, and is a leader in basically every category including expected goals total(oh by the way this article only references one line however it hasn’t mattered which line combination they put him in it’s the same!!) if your seriously mad about the creativity that leads to some turnovers then allow me to tell you I’ll watch him make that pass and show the ability and willingness to get creative for goals all day long then go back to Jacques trap and pray for a goal system….zuc has been excellent again this year I could honestly only think of one complaint and that’s flat out I’ve seen a Rossi fight and not Lizard of Oslo!!!!

[bisopher]

https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/minnesota-wild-signs-forward-mason-shaw-021524

SHAWZIE'S BACK!!!!😃

[Willy the poor boy]

12 hours ago, Eddy said:

I’m going to say at 36 he’s driving the offense and getting dirty still…if your expecting more from him I can’t imagine what more your asking for he has over exceeded expectations with his first contract  and now this year he’s been above average and easily a top 6 forward. Reading these comments makes me wonder what are you asking for from a 36 year old making 4 mil a year for the next 2🤦‍♂️ driving play and a near point per game average isn’t enough 🤷‍♂️. He never takes unnecessary penalties, excellent control with the puck, and is a leader in basically every category including expected goals total(oh by the way this article only references one line however it hasn’t mattered which line combination they put him in it’s the same!!) if your seriously mad about the creativity that leads to some turnovers then allow me to tell you I’ll watch him make that pass and show the ability and willingness to get creative for goals all day long then go back to Jacques trap and pray for a goal system….zuc has been excellent again this year I could honestly only think of one complaint and that’s flat out I’ve seen a Rossi fight and not Lizard of Oslo!!!!

Typical MN fans. It's NEVER enough. 

[mnfaninnc]

13 hours ago, Eddy said:

I’m going to say at 36 he’s driving the offense and getting dirty still…if your expecting more from him I can’t imagine what more your asking for he has over exceeded expectations with his first contract  and now this year he’s been above average and easily a top 6 forward. Reading these comments makes me wonder what are you asking for from a 36 year old making 4 mil a year for the next 2🤦‍♂️ driving play and a near point per game average isn’t enough 🤷‍♂️.

I think we have a different definition of driving play. From the eye test, I would not consider that he is "driving" the play, I'd say he is more setting the table. To me, driving the play assumes a heavy north-south game, taking pucks to the net and being excellent at puck retrieval. Ek's game would be a good example for this. 

I don't see driving play as a guy who plays the type of position he does on the PP, or a guy who doesn't really carry the puck in that much and will constantly button hook in the offensive zone or wait for people to open up and distribute, like a QB or point guard does. There's a place on any team for those kinds of guys and they are useful. But for me, he plays too much of a perimeter game to be considered a play driver. 

Now with the analytics, I'm sure they define this differently. They'll use a certain set of numbers to declare if someone is a driver or not. I'm kind of a simple guy who relies heavily on the eye test, and who probably puts more of an emphasis on physical play. 

But, in conclusion to the premise of the article, I cannot consider Zuccarello as a Stealth MVP. I think we've got plenty of others contributing at a higher level than this. 

[Patrick]

19 hours ago, Eddy said:

I’m going to say at 36 he’s driving the offense and getting dirty still…if your expecting more from him I can’t imagine what more your asking for he has over exceeded expectations with his first contract  and now this year he’s been above average and easily a top 6 forward. Reading these comments makes me wonder what are you asking for from a 36 year old making 4 mil a year for the next 2🤦‍♂️ driving play and a near point per game average isn’t enough 🤷‍♂️. He never takes unnecessary penalties, excellent control with the puck, and is a leader in basically every category including expected goals total(oh by the way this article only references one line however it hasn’t mattered which line combination they put him in it’s the same!!) if your seriously mad about the creativity that leads to some turnovers then allow me to tell you I’ll watch him make that pass and show the ability and willingness to get creative for goals all day long then go back to Jacques trap and pray for a goal system….zuc has been excellent again this year I could honestly only think of one complaint and that’s flat out I’ve seen a Rossi fight and not Lizard of Oslo!!!!

His performance up to this year has been great and he can still contribute on the PP but what is his 5 on 5 production away from Kaprizov? Basically zero.  If he follows the Pominville curve next year he will be borderline useless. The problem is the extension. It will age poorly. Some guys don't realize they are washed up for a little while.

[Protec]

If Zuccarello had 75 points last year, and has had a similar pace this season, I'd say it's a poor comparison to use Pominnville. 

Offensive leader for sure. MVP, we can debate that. Washed up, nah. He's a good player, smart. He'll be able to keep producing if he's healthy. Not a physical player for playoffs I suppose but good for scoring and the PP. He can shoot the puck and makes plays. Lizard-like and setting an example for little Euro hockey players worldwide.