Rangers Sign Mats Zuccarello

Fantasy Impact: The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with their former ‘castaway’ Mats Zuccarello. Terms of the contract are unknown at this time, but one would assume that it’s a one-way deal, as that is what he was angling for last summer.

The Rangers get: A very skilled, diminutive winger who has enjoyed success with the club before. However, on a couple of occasions in which Zuccarello really started to roll, he was felled by injury.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Zuccarello should be picked up off of waivers in most formats, even if you don’t need a winger. Because you can play on the hype and trade him to a desperate owner. If you’re that ‘desperate owner’, then he’ll probably help. Given the situation the Rangers are in, as well as their needs, he won’t be plugged into the fourth line. He’ll get some quality opportunities right away. There is an injury risk, but if you’re in a league that has a waiver wire…then you’re in a league that has an injured reserve. TSN’s Bob McKenzie has speculated that Zuccarello will be in the lineup as early as the weekend.

This will probably push Chris Kreider down to the minors and J.T. Miller, who is out with a wrist injury, could soon follow if the Rangers add another body.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:
1. Zuccarello

2. Derek Stepan

3. Brad Richards

4. Michael Del Zotto

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Kreider

2. Miller

3. Carl Hagelin