Mats-Zuccarello Aasen: What to Expect from the Rangers' Norwegian Phenom

In late June Glen Sather announced that he had signed Norwegian superstar Mats-Zuccarello Aasen (MZA). Last season, MZA won the MVP in the Swedish Elite Hockey League. Aasen garnered a lot of interest after scoring 23 goals and 41 assists (in only 55 games) for the SEL’s Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik.

The Rangers won the bidding and acquired an extremely talented forward, but the 5’7” Norwegian phenom will have a lot to learn about the North American game before he cracks the Rangers' roster.

MZA will attend the Rangers' training camp this September, with hopes of making the team. Though the spots seem to be filled, there are ways the Rangers' front office can open up space for players like MZA.

I hope MZA will be on the ice in game one of the season against Toronto, but I do not expect him to make the team. A season in Hartford would not hurt Zuke at all—it will only help. It would give him the chance to develop with players like Evgeny Grachev and Derek Stepan.

If things are going well for MZA in the minors (if that’s where he starts out) and the Rangers have a spot to fill on the roster at any point in the season, expect him to get an opportunity to play with the Rangers for a few games. But if Zuccarello-Aasen does happen to make the Rangers' roster this season, and plays in all 82 games, expect him to play on the third line (maybe second line) and tally around 30 to 40 points (maybe 10-15 goals and assists).

The Rangers will not rush MZA’s development by putting him in the lineup opening night if they do not feel he is ready. But Torts will likely get him to play a few games in the NHL just to see what he has to offer. If he comes into training camp and plays the way he did in Sweden, then he may be able to crack a spot on the first two lines.

I only wish the Rangers had chosen him to play in the Traverse City Tournament so that everyone could get an earlier look at his ability, and so that he would have a better chance during training camp.

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