Mats Zuccarello signed a two-year, $8.25 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on Friday. It has an average annual value of $4.125 million.
Zuccarello is entering the final year of a five-year, $30 million contract ($6 million AAV) he signed with the Wild on July 1, 2019, and could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
"This is where I want to be," Zuccarello said. "Me and my family are happy here. This is home for me now. I've been here for four years, soon five. I really enjoy being in Minnesota. All the people working around the team, my teammates, all the fans, every nice person I met around the state of Minnesota so it's an honor for me to stay here a couple more years. It's just such a good day and this is where I wanted to be. This is where you want to finish your career."
The 36-year-old forward had 67 points (22 goals, 45 assists) in 78 games with the Wild last season, leading them in assists and finishing second on the team in points behind Kirill Kaprizov (75). Zuccarello had five points (two goals, three assists) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"He's a great player," Kaprizov said. "He helps all the time ... and you look at him and you can learn a lot (with) his skill and his process and his style. He's a great guy. He helps not just in hockey but outside hockey. Any questions, he always helps you. ... He's a fun guy."
In his four seasons with the Wild, he has 218 points (72 goals, 146 assists) in 255 regular-season games and Minnesota has qualified for the playoffs in each.
"It's the energy, it's the jam he brings every night," Wild general manager Bill Guerin said. "He does everything. He sticks up for his teammates, he brings energy, he's gritty, he makes plays. He does everything for the team. Things that you think are small are not. He's very important to us in a lot of different ways."
On Thursday, Wild owner Craig Leopold said Zuccarello's relationship with his linemate Kaprizov was an important factor in resigning him.
"It does. Everything comes into play," Leopold said. "Their chemistry is so good, they work hard at it, they trust each other. I wouldn't be honest if i didn't tell you that's an important part of why he's important to our team, because they have a lot of chemistry together, and you want to keep those guys together."
Signed by the New York Rangers as an undrafted free agent on Mat 26, 2010, Zuccarello has 573 points (186 goals, 387 assists) in 766 regular-season games with the Wild, Dallas Stars and Rangers and 55 points (18 goals, 37 assists) in 96 playoff games.
On Friday, the Wild also signed forward Marcus Foligno to a four-year, $16 million contract. It has an average annual value of $4 million and begins next season. The 32-year-old is entering the final season of a three-year, $9.3 million contract ($3.1 million AAV) he signed on Jan. 12, 2021, and could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
"Both are different players but equally as important," Wild coach Dean Evason said Saturday. "And both clearly leaders in our locker room and great people so we're excited that they both got extensions."
Foligno had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) and led the Wild in penalty minutes (97) and hits (237) in 65 games last season. He had one goal in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.
In six seasons with the Wild, Foligno has 156 points (67 goals, 89 assists) and 415 penalty minutes in 396 regular-season games and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 28 playoff games.
"Just happy to be here, happy to be here for a while and make this more of a home than it already is," Foligno said Saturday. "It's unfinished business here that I didn't really want to walk away from. We have a great team and the future's bright. It's a great team, great group of guys and something that I feel like I've been a part of for a while and want to continue to see it through."
Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round (No. 104) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Foligno has 272 points (116 goals, 156 assists) and 749 penalty minutes in 743 regular-season games with the Wild and Sabres.
NHL.com independent correspondent Jessi Pierce contributed to this report
