Dec 14, 2018
Zuccarello clears up waiting for trade remark
New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello is well aware that, with an expiring contract, he could be moved ahead of the trade deadline. The 31-year-old, however, wants to make it clear that his preference is to remain with the Rangers, who he's spent his entire professional career with.
TSN.ca Staff
New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello is well aware that, with an expiring contract, he could be moved ahead of the trade deadline.
The 31-year-old, however, wants to make it clear that his preference is to remain with the Rangers, who he's spent his entire professional career with.
“You know what, I think everyone knows my opinion about everything. I love it here,” Zuccarello told The New York Post. “This is my ninth season. This is where I grew up to become — hopefully — an adult. Maybe half [an adult]. But this is home for me, my second home.”
Zuccarello also cleared up comments he made on a Norwegian hockey podcast recently that he was waiting to be traded. The nine-year veteran said his remarks were taken out of context, and he was simply trying to make the best of the situation.
“Like I said earlier — and people got it out of context — in the situation I’m in right now, you have to prepare for everything,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens. I can’t control it. If something happens, you just have to look at it — you can’t be sulking. It’s going to be real sad for me, and it’s going to be tough. But you just have to try to look [at the] positive. That’s all I said, and people blow up stuff.
“There’s no secret that it’s out there. For me, I prepare for everything, try to do my best as long as I’m here. Hopefully I’m here for a long time. If not, it’s nothing I can control.”
Zuccarello is expected to play just his third game since Nov. 6 on Friday night as a result of a lingering groin injury. He's hoping having rested since Nov. 23 will allow him to be stay in the lineup this time around.
“The last two games I played, I wasn’t doing the team any good. That was a selfish decision to want to play,” Zuccarello said. “I just want to make sure, if I play, I can help the team be better.”
The right winger has three goals and 10 points in 17 games with the Rangers this season. He carries a $4.5 million cap hit in the final season of the four-year, $18 million contract he signed with the club in 2015.