The Buffalo Sabers made several roster additions this offseason, both through trades and on the free agent market. The most notable of the forwards signed is veteran winger Jason Zucker.
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The Sabers spent a little more to sign Zucker, signing him to a one-year, $5 million contract. With the Sabers having room to work and needing help on the wing, this move is understandable. Now, they’re hoping their 2010 second-round pick will give their middle six a big boost.
While Zucker may not be the flashiest player, he has the potential to become a complete steal for the Sabres.
In 69 games last season, split between the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators, Zucker scored 14 goals, 32 points and 98 boards. Overall, it was a solid year for the 32-year-old, but there are apparent reasons to believe his numbers could be higher next season in Buffalo.
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In 2022-23 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zucker recorded an impressive 27 goals, 48 points and 197 boards in 78 games. Thus, he can provide more offense and overall grit when in the proper role, and he can achieve just that in Buffalo when looking at the current group.
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Zucker also scored six times with 20 goals, so he has shown many times throughout his career that he can be an impactful offensive producer.
When noting that Zucker has a real chance to play top six minutes and get some power playing time with the Sabres, he could have a very strong season in Buffalo. If he gets back to at least 20 goals and 45 points, this will certainly be a signing the Sabers are happy with.
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