Looking Ahead: Mats Zuccarello-Aasen – Rangers X factor

Following up on Dave’s post about MZA impressing during the pre-camp skates lets take a look at what MZA could mean to the organization. The signing of the diminutive Norwegian forward this summer has given the Rangers organization a genuine x-factor in their ranks. When a franchise can add a piece to their puzzle (with such apparent upside) without giving up anything but dollars it is a risk free move when you have the financial accessibility the Rangers enjoy. So risk aside, how will MZA’s signing affect the Rangers?

If MZA becomes a Euro flop and frequents the AHL and its extensive bus network for two seasons then it will have still been a chance worth taking for the Rangers but if the skilled winger becomes an impact player in New York it leaves the Rangers in a very nice position. You cannot put a price on depth and as we have seen in recent years, offensive depth is something successful teams need. The last top heavy team to win the Stanley Cup was arguably the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2004. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit and the Blackhawks have recently all enjoyed deep playoff runs and/or Stanley Cup success in part because of depth. A successful MZA dramatically alters the look of the Rangers offensively.

When you consider the Rangers offensively now and in the future you think of Marian Gaborik, Alex Frolov, Brandon Dubinsky now and players such as Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Evgeny Grachev and Ethan Werek in the future. That’s good depth to name just a few. Then you throw in the x-factor of MZA and what he means to the club. Imagine ‘The Hobbit’ develops into a lesser version of Martin St Louis. The Rangers, in one flash of their cheque book will have added a point producer whose presence has a rippling effect on the organisation. Prospects don’t get rushed, players can be moved for better players (thanks to dealing from depth), contract negotiations for other players take on a different dynamic (thanks to less reliance on any one player) and draft picks can be used in other areas of need. The entire club is better placed long term.

Hitting a home run with a free agent such as MZA can be massively beneficial to a club. This isn’t like going out on July 1^st and winning an arms race but then still tying yourself to a player at an inflated price and therefore taking on risk. If MZA can become a top 6 scorer sooner rather than later the progression of the club gets expedited. If the Rangers, 12 months from now, are looking to insert the Grachev’s and Stepan’s into the line up but not needing immediate production from them it’s a good position to be in. MZA’s development into a legitimate NHL scoring threat would mean the Rangers can go toe to toe with most clubs in the East offensively. When you have parity offensively and you can turn to Henrik Lundqvist in net the future looks very bright.

A successful Zuccarello-Aasen could mean the Rangers become a contender, his development can have that big an affect. Will he become that kind of player? Who knows, but his talent and CV suggest its possible. Every Rangers fan should hope MZA has a strong camp and is NHL ready. They should hope he forces the team into playing him from the off and they should hope he has the impact Petr Prucha had but with sustained success. It could mean June hockey at the MSG.