Trading Jason Zucker Doesn't Make Sense for Penguins

Jason Zucker is closer to earning an extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins rather than being traded before the deadline.

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins are no stranger to being in ‘win-now mode’ and making a run at the postseason every year with elevated aspirations.

Maintaining that kind of mindset comes with some baggage, however, and when a team like the Penguins struggles, changes need to be made.

There are still a handful of huge names available on the NHL trade market and it wouldn’t be surprising if general manager Ron Hextall was working the phones.

The Penguins need some help and a trade could be a good way of getting a boost in momentum.

According to Elliotte Friedman in his 32 Thoughts article, he mentioned the idea of the Penguins making a deal involving Jason Zucker.

The Penguins haven’t had a ton of bright spots this season, but Zucker has certainly rebuilt himself after a pair of unproductive seasons.

Zucker not only helps drive play in the Penguins top six, but also throws his body around enough to lead the team in hits.

Through 52 games played, Zucker has posted 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points and has piled up a team (and career) high of 146 hits.

Sure, a trade involving Zucker for a certain future makes sense, but he’s bringing too much to the table this year.

The Penguins are lacking toughness in a couple of areas, and while Zucker isn’t known as a brawler, he is the closest thing the team has.

Zucker isn’t afraid to get into the dirty areas of the game, and isn’t afraid to stick up for himself or his teammates.

When asked about the skirmish that erupted against the New York Islanders, Zucker said he and the team can’t back down from incidents like that.

“They have guys on that team whose jobs are to disturb like that,” Zucker said. “We just got to make sure from our end we’re not going to let that stop us from playing, or backing down from it.”

Before Zucker was sent to the locker room with a 10-minute misconduct, he was sent to the penalty box where he took it upon himself to get the juices flowing for the crowd.

PPG Paints Arena reached its loudest point of the season, and getting the fans into the game is what Zucker lives for.

“I love it, I think it’s great,” Zucker said. “We have a great crowd. We want to use that energy and that momentum as much as we can.”

Zucker is in the final year of his contract and he’s playing well enough to earn another deal in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins have been in win-now mode since 2006 and Zucker pushes the team further in that direction in 2023.

As the final stretch of the season hits, the Penguins are in need of help; sending away Zucker doesn’t do anything to help this team this year.

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