Three days after being traded to the Penguins, former Wild forward Jason Zucker wrote a letter of thanks to the State of Hockey that he called home for six NHL seasons, and for all nine of his years since being drafted by Minnesota in 2010.
Address to “The State of Hockey,” Zucker said “Minnesota will alway be home” as it’s where he met his wife, Carly Zucker, and helped raise their children. “We are grateful for the chance to share those experiences with Wild fans,” he said, later adding:
“Thank you to my friends, my teammates, Bruce Boudreau and the rest of the coaching staff for teaching me over the years, Chuck Fletcher for drafting me, Minnesota Wild organization for treating my family like gold, and to Craig Leipold for running a world-class organization. I wish the Wild the best of luck!”
Thank you, Minnesota!! pic.twitter.com/n29cSBY7Rd
— Jason Zucker (@Jason_Zucker16) February 13, 2020
He closed his letter saying he’s excited to play for a shot at the Stanley Cup with the Penguins.
In addition to saving $5.5 million on Zucker’s annual contract, the Wild acquired forward Alex Galchenyuk, 21-year-old forward prospect Calen Addison and the Penguins’ 2020 first-round pick (lottery protected).
Minnesota is four points out of a playoff spot entering play Thursday.
