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Minnesota Wild trade Jason Zucker to the Pittsburgh Penguins

By Mary Clarke

MONTREAL, QC - OCTOBER 17: Jason Zucker (16) of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the first period of the NHL game between the Minnesota Wilds and the Montreal Canadiens on October 17, 2019, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - OCTOBER 17: Jason Zucker (16) of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the first period of the NHL game between the Minnesota Wilds and the Montreal Canadiens on October 17, 2019, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The first major deal of the 2020 NHL trade deadline has sent Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made the first major splash of the 2020 NHL trade deadline. On Monday night, the Penguins acquired forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk, a 2020 conditional first round pick and defensive prospect Calen Addison.

The condition on the 2020 first round pick is that it can be deferred to 2021 should the Penguins miss the playoffs this season. As of Monday night, the Penguins sit fourth in the NHL with 73 points on the season thus far.

No team in the deal retains any salary from any of the players traded as well.

Pittsburgh had been a top contender for Zucker for the last month or so, as the team had been rumored to land the 28-year-old forward for some time. Zucker is a major add for the Penguins’ top-six, as the forward can slide in on the wing beside Sidney Crosby as an immediate upgrade to a deadly Pittsburgh lineup. As of Feb. 10, the Penguins hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 34-15-5 record.

This season, Zucker had 29 points in 45 games for the Wild, with 14 goals to his name despite missing time in mid-December to early January due to injury. After this season, Zucker will have three years remaining on his contract with a $5.5 million average annual value.

Going back to Minnesota is 25-year-old forward Galchenyuk, who also spent time on injured reserve this season for Pittsburgh. Galchenyuk was acquired by the Penguins in the offseason, but posted just 17 points in 45 games this year in an overall disappointing season.

The move to send Galchenyuk to Minnesota is mostly a salary cap move, as the forward commanded a $4.9 million cap hit for the remainder of this season. Galchenyuk will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 should the Wild not re-sign him.

Outside of the conditional first in this year’s draft, the Wild get defensive prospect Addison as well. The Penguins drafted Addison 53rd overall in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and was a major part of Pittsburgh’s prospect pool. The addition of Addison in the deal gives Minnesota a solid defensive prospect to build around as the team continues to retool and reshape their organization.

While the Wild may be in the playoff hunt this season, the team’s overall goal is no doubt building up prospects to reshape the future of the franchise. As for the Penguins, adding another Stanley Cup to their resume is clearly on general manager Jim Rutherford’s mind with this all-in deal for Pittsburgh.

dark. Next. 2020 NHL trade deadline deal tracker

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