"I lost my speech (figure of speak)... I didn't know what to say. Its big." MZA said about Sathers call.
Quote:
"There is a big interest for him", says agent Craig Oster.
Quote:
Enligt vad Sportbladet erfar är Toronto, Chicago, Colorado, Boston, Detroit och New York Rangers sex av klubbarna som visat intresse.
Sportbladet kan avslöja att i tisdags träffade Zuccarello Aasen Detroits talangscout Håkan Andersson på Arlanda.
Senaste i raden av klubbar som hört av sig är mäktiga New York Rangers. I onsdags ringde klubbens general manager Glen Sather till den tekniske norrmannen.
Thats 6 of the 8 teams that are interested. We are the latest to join the ranks.
At first I was like "wat" but I remember that name from the Olympics. But whatever that language is, I don't speak it or know anything about that guy.
Undersized Norwegian forward. Pretty good little player in the SEL, played like a pimp at the Olympics....probably make an okay second line winger in the NHL.
I liked what I saw from him in the Olympics. He's worth a look, and I'd be interested in him if we can sign him on the cheap.
Size is a bit of an issue, but I really appreciate his determination and effort level. He played his heart out in the Olympics and was always a threat on the ice. He's been tearing it up in the SEL as well. And if MZA is on the team, it will give Henke another Scandinavian friend!
I liked what I saw from him in the Olympics. He's worth a look, and I'd be interested in him if we can sign him on the cheap.
Size is a bit of an issue, but I really appreciate his determination and effort level. He played his heart out in the Olympics and was always a threat on the ice. He's been tearing it up in the SEL as well. And if MZA is on the team, it will give Henke another Scandinavian friend!
I would get him in a heart beat. Reminds me of a poor-mans Martin St Louis. Funny how he too was a pick-up/signing that turned into a gem, Mats could be the same.
"Money means nothing. I want to go to a team that can have patience and believe in me. [It's] Best for me to receive a proposal where they show they believe in me."
Same as Linus Omark said before he ditched Edmonton for KHL, because he didn't feel they believed in him.
If a franchise can convince MZA he will receive ice time and has time and the patience from the staff to adjust, he can probably be signed to a cheap entry level contract.
Guy has skill, no question about it. He's very good at stickhandling, skating (very quick first step), vision, shootouts and breakaways.
Seriously though, this kid seemed to be destined for Detroit. Håkan Andersson loves him. Yzerman loves him, said that he was the biggest surprise in the Olympics.
But you never know.
He is 5'7 160 lbs. And a really good hockeyplayer. Good sniper, great playmaker. Just very good overall. Put in the right environment -- this kid could become a star. He was great for norway in the OG's. He have played all year with Forsberg this season, not on the same line all the time, but on the same team. And it definitely seem like he gained another level from that. Like that its possible to do stuff at a certain level, its not magic. That shouldn't be underrated either.
But the above can be said about a lot of players out side the NHL. But I think is special about MZA is that he isn't some kind of minorleague puck wizard or PP specialist or something like that. Besides his offensive game he is a hardworking 2-way player. He have great character. And he is darn smart. Like you saw in the OG's -- he don't need anything to create offense. No room. No linemates. He still create as much offense as anyone on the ice -- while going up against Canadas and the US best (okey Iginla had hatty, so maybe not, but still kind of... ).
No doubt, he have a lot more potential then midgets we have seen before in NY -- like Prucha and Dawes. I wouldn't at all rule out the possibility of him becoming a Pat Kane/Ziggy Palffy type of player. While he still of course have a lot of work in front of him. The scale I would put him on is like Kane at one end and Hudler at the other. Or you can maybe never rule out that some org's would ruin him, but... I am sure all 30 teams in the league would love to have him. But I think Detroit is the problem. Håkan Andersson was the first to declare the love for this kid. But there were no transferagreement between the SEL and the NHL so MZA were stuck in Sweden this year. Its hard to deny that Detroit is the optimal fit for this kid.
Same as Linus Omark said before he ditched Edmonton for KHL, because he didn't feel they believed in him.
Link? (to where he said that money didn't matter)
But EDM did also say what you said that they said -- out right. "We don't believe in you. We have a lot of small players on the roster already."
Negotiations are always tough. Somewhere you got to draw the line. Kevin Lowe had seen Omark in Sweden late in the season, and raved about him in the media. Then they let their assistant AHL GM, or someone like that, negotiate with Omark and they really low ball him. It wasn't about getting a 1-way deal (like reported by some canadian press -- Omark can't sign a 1-way deal according to the CBA), it was about a 200k signing bonus (very moderate). They then said take it or leave it and wouldn't even negotiate with him.
In that clip when the announcer says MZA's name with his accent, it sounds to me like he is calling him "Zucarello Awesome"..........which, you know, kinda rules.
This team lacks goal scoring skill on the 2nd line wings, can't see any down side to signing him, especially since he has to get an ELC because of his age. He would get a ton of ice time on the Rangers on the 2nd line, imo at least. Also helps with the Rangers cap situation. Where else are you going to find a potential top 6 player who can put the puck in the net and is responsible in his own end that is ready for the NHL, signed for $875K (W/ bonus' that can be pushed off until the next season if necessary).
I liked what I saw in the Olympics. I think he can be a decent 2nd line player in the NHL.
Ambuhl is nowhere near as good as this kid. MZA has NHL level skill, there's no doubt about it. The knock on him is size. Still, that doesn't stop him from getting physical with guys who are much bigger than him. He got into it with Pronger at the Olympics if I remember correctly.
As Ola said, he's been playing on the same team as Forsberg, and you can tell some of that famous 'edge' is wearing off on MZA.
I think the guy could be a decent contributor on our 2nd line, but I doubt we're able to land him. One would think that Forsberg is pimping Colorado to him.
Mats has awesome skill, no doubt. Whether he can play in NA at his size is a different story.
I'm never opposed to taking fliers on European pros. If they pan out, awesome! If not, let them play a year in Hartford and then have them go back to Europe. It's a no lose proposition, IMO.
And yeah, as Trxjw said, MZA is way better than Ambuhl. Not even the same type of player, either.
Mats has awesome skill, no doubt. Whether he can play in NA at his size is a different story.
He plays a similar game like Callahan... He's not a softy, despite his small frame.
He might get knocked around a little bit like Prucha, Gionta, St.Louis and other small players... but heh, they're all surviving at the NHL Level.
didnt we hear stuff like this about ambuhl ? we seem to have a fixation on petr prucha wannabes
please, let detroit take him, im sure hell be a superstar for them. for us, hell be another undersized euro who torts will eventually come to dislike
not really all that interested in someone whos got the build of a jockey
no thanks.
agreed.
These projects never work out here. This team can't afford signing on non-NHL players with the hopes theyll develop into something great down the line, or possibly their first season in the NHL. (see Gilroy) This team takes too many risks as it is with the NHL reclamation projects alone.
How about putting together a legit NHL team by scouting and developing players that come from this league? How about trying that first for a ****ing change? Jesus christ Sather will you quit the projects and assess NHL talent correctly first before you go and offer some schmo from Norway a 3 year contract? Hasnt he learned? For ****s sake this is exactly why this team sucks.
These projects never work out here. This team can't afford signing on non-NHL players with the hopes theyll develop into something great down the line, or possibly their first season in the NHL. (see Gilroy) This team takes too many risks as it is with the NHL reclamation projects alone.
How about putting together a legit NHL team by scouting and developing players that come from this league? How about trying that first for a ****ing change? Jesus christ Sather will you quit the projects and assess NHL talent correctly first before you go and offer some schmo from Norway a 3 year contract? Hasnt he learned? For ****s sake this is exactly why this team sucks.
He's subject to the same ELC restrictions that a drafted player would be subject to. I'm not sure why you're getting up in arms about it. Worst case, we pay a guy on a two-way contract to help out in Hartford the next couple seasons. Best case, we have a productive offensive forward on an affordable deal.
This kind of thing is completely unrelated to the boneheaded UFA signings he makes. The CBA prohibits him from offering MZA an absurd contract. By your logic, signing any of our draft picks is basically the reason this team sucks.
).
