In the ups and downs of the hockey world, catch up on Jason Zucker's suspension, Jesse Puljujarvi getting close to a return, Fantilli settling in with the Blue Jackets and more.

This is Plus Minus, a regular THN.com feature in which we hand out “pluses” to people or organizations who do something to benefit the hockey community and also deliver “minuses” to someone or something that’s not a positive. Simple enough, right? Let’s get right to it with topics you may have missed:

MINUS: Coyotes’ Zucker suspended three games

Arizona winger Jason Zucker got a cold slap in the face from the NHL Department of Player Safety this week when he was suspended for three games for his collision with Florida forward Nick Cousins, who left the game after the hit.

Zucker claimed he wasn’t exacting revenge on Cousins, who had slammed into Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki near the boards just prior to Zucker’s hit. But that’s an unbelievable (in the bad sense) statement. Of course, it was retribution. Zucker should just be lucky the suspension was only three games; for some of us, the entire NHL suspension protocol needs changing, and punishments need to be longer if we’re going to change the way NHL players play. It’s all about a safe working environment, and Zucker paid a minimum price for making the league a less safe place.

PLUS: Puljujarvi nears NHL return, signs AHL tryout

Veteran forward Jesse Puljujarvi got closer to getting back to the NHL Thursday when he signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 25-year-old had previously worked with the Penguins’ NHL team when he signed a tryout in early December, and given the sorry state of the Pens, it’s highly likely he’ll be recalled to Pittsburgh to see if he can still be an effective NHLer.

Whether or not he plays again in hockey’s top league, Puljujarvi has to be applauded for his determination to keep playing. Many NHLers lose the drive to stay in peak form, but right now, Puljujarvi still has a passion to get back and improve on his NHL totals of 334 games, 51 goals, 63 assists and 114 points. Here’s wishing him the best of luck.

MINUS: Penguins reaching breaking point with Graves

One of the bigger moves the Penguins made this past summer was the signing of veteran defenseman Ryan Graves, but saying Graves has struggled this season would be an understatement. 

He’s been a massive letdown, especially at a salary of $4.5 million per season until the summer of 2029. In his most recent game, Graves was on the ice for three of four first-period goals from the Washington Capitals, and Pens coach Mike Sullivan kept him almost nailed to the bench late in the game. Graves also was practicing on the third defense pair after that Caps game, and that’s a massive problem the Penguins need to solve.

Graves had some success in New Jersey, which is why Pittsburgh went after him in free agency. But he’s looking lost on the ice, and his confidence is likely shot at this stage. His problems have contributed to the Pens’ woes as a team, and if the Penguins are to turn their season around, they need a serious improvement from Graves.

PLUS: Fantilli feeling at home in Columbus

As the middle of the season draws near, one of the few positives in Columbus is the play of star rookie Adam Fantilli. The 19-year-old has adapted well to the NHL, posting 11 goals and 24 points in 40 games – and he’s doing it averaging only 15:34 of ice time per game. Were it not for Chicago phenom Connor Bedard, Fantilli would be front and center in the race for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s best freshman.

Much was expected of Fantilli, drafted third-overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft. And much has been delivered. He’s a crafty, feisty, creative force, and his points-per-game average of 0.59 is terrific, especially considering what a terrible Blue Jackets team he’s playing on.