Fantasy Take: Zucker to Nashville for Playoff Push
Michael Clifford
2024-03-08
Nashville continues to add some depth pieces as they traded for Anthony Beauvillier yesterday (that breakdown can be viewed here), added Jaret Anderson-Dolan through waivers, and have now acquired Jason Zucker from Arizona. Zucker had signed a one-year deal in the offseason to try and keep his value afloat and he's now heading to Nashville as they gear up for a playoff run. Going back to Arizona is a sixth-round pick.
Let's break it down.
What Nashville Gets
Though Zucker has just nine goals in 51 games this season, he has also skated just 14 minutes a game and was largely kept away from Arizona's top forwards. His role could improve in Nashville even if they use the top line heavily; the Predators spread out the ice time among their second, third, and fourth lines as they have seven forwards over the last month that don't play on the top line but earning between 23-26% of the team's even strength ice time. Zucker had been around 21% in Arizona, so maybe there's a slight uptick, but with the way the team changes their lines, he may not see much of an uptick in actual ice time.
The key for any improved fantasy value is Nashville's power play. The top line, plus Roman Josi, are the core four of the top PP unit, but there has been a rotating cast for the fifth spot including Tyson Barrie, Colton Sissons, Cody Glass, and Tommy Novak. With that spot in flux, Zucker could see some time there, but Glass has spent a lot of time in that role recently, and even if Zucker does take over at some point, it may not last very long.
A secondary boost could come if Zucker lines up next to Novak. Novak has had Luke Evangelista quite often as a line mate, but there have been a number of players on the left side and Zucker could fill a goal-scoring role on that line. We have to see what they decide to do, but the option is there.
Overall, it doesn't seem like much will change for Zucker, but he's not that far from a second line/top PP role.
In Arizona, it doesn't change a lot given Zucker's lesser role, but it does mean regular roles for the bottom of the roster like Michael Carcone and Liam O'Brien.
Who This Helps
Liam O'Brien
Who This Hurts
Kiefer Sherwood
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