Zucker Could Play In Sabres Top Six

32-year-old winger signed a one-year, $5 million deal on July 1

The Buffalo Sabres made additions in the last week consistent with making their bottom six more tough to play against. The club added size when they acquired forward Beck Malenstyn from Washington for a second-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas, and energetic forwards in free agents Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel on July 1, but veteran Jason Zucker may be slated for a role higher in the lineup depending on what happens the rest of the summer.

The 32-year-old winger signed a one-year, $5 million contract on Monday after a 32-point season with Arizona and Nashville last season, but two years ago he scored 27 goals playing in a top-six role with Pittsburgh.

"My biggest asset is my speed and my forechecking. When I played with Evgeni Malkin and Sid(ney Crosby), it was go in there and get pucks back. If the puck ends up in the corner, go get back in and let their skill take over. I'm not afraid to stand (in front of the) net and kind of take a beating net front throughout the game." Zucker said on a Zoom call on Wednesday. “I have a knack around the net to get open and find soft spots. When I was playing with Malkin, I think we had a good chemistry in that sense and I see a lot of the same similarities with (Tage) Thompson and Alex Tuch,"

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may be working on other possible additions via trade or free agency before the start of training camp in September, but failing that, the club may have signed Zucker as a possible top-six option if youngsters Jack Quinn or Zach Benson are not ready to take on a more prominent role.