Jason Zucker

Lore & Background

Zucker signed a one-year, $5.3 million contract with the Arizona Coyotes as a free agent on July 1, 2023. He made his Coyotes debut in the season-opening shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils. His first goal with Arizona came on October 19 on a power-play pass from Matias Maccelli in a 6–2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. On January 2, 2024, Zucker retaliated against Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins for a dangerous check on teammate Juuso Välimäki, checking Cousins hard into the boards and giving him a concussion. Zucker received three major penalties on the play and was suspended for three games on January 3 for boarding. In 51 games with Arizona, he recorded nine goals and 25 points before being traded at the NHL trading deadline on March 8, 2024, to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round draft pick.

Reader's Guide

Jason Zucker's tenure with the Arizona Coyotes was brief, spanning 51 games during the 2023–24 season. Signed as a free agent after concluding his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zucker provided veteran depth on the wing. His time in Arizona was marked by a notable incident on January 2, 2024, when he retaliated against Nick Cousins for a dangerous check on teammate Juuso Välimäki, resulting in a three-game suspension for boarding. Despite the shortened stint, Zucker contributed nine goals and 25 points before being traded to the Nashville Predators at the deadline. His signing reflected the Coyotes' strategy of adding experienced players on short-term deals, though his impact was limited by the mid-season trade. The suspension highlighted the physical edge Zucker brought to the lineup, but his overall production was modest during his time in Arizona.

Did You Know?

• He scored his first NHL goal against Petr Mrázek on February 17, 2013.
• Zucker won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for the 2018–19 season.
• He has a tattoo on his left arm in Hebrew reading 'In pursuit of perfection' in honor of his Jewish heritage.