Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Mats Zuccarello’s time with the Minnesota Wild has come to an end.
The 38-year-old winger agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, according to multiple NHL insiders, closing the book on seven seasons in Minnesota. The deal also includes a $5 million bonus if Zuccarello appears in 10 games with the Kings.
Zuccarello leaves the Wild as one of the most productive wingers in franchise history. He ranks fourth all-time in assists with the club and first among wingers, finishing his Wild tenure with 118 goals, 271 assists and 389 points in 452 games. He also holds the franchise record for fastest player to reach 200 career assists, getting there in 330 games.
The Norwegian forward remained a top producer into his late 30s. He posted 15 goals, 39 assists and 54 points in 59 games this past season, then added nine points in eight playoff games as the Wild made a postseason run. His chemistry with linemate Kirill Kaprizov became one of the signature partnerships in the NHL, with Zuccarello widely credited as a key factor in Kaprizov’s development into a superstar.
Zuccarello signed with Minnesota as a free agent in July 2019 after being traded from the New York Rangers to the Dallas Stars earlier that year. He became a fixture in the Wild’s top six and a mentor to younger players in the locker room.
The move to Los Angeles comes as the Kings look to add scoring depth following Anze Kopitar’s retirement. General manager Ken Holland said the team needed more offensive punch up front and pointed to Zuccarello’s playmaking and power-play ability as a fit alongside recent addition Artemi Panarin.
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