The Buffalo Sabres Have An Important Decision To Make With Jason Zucker

When the Buffalo Sabres signed veteran forward Jason Zucker to a one-year, $5-million contract last summer, the move was seen as a low-risk, high-reward gamble.

The expectation was that he would provide leadership and secondary scoring while serving as a potential trade chip if the Sabres failed to contend for a playoff spot.

In mid-January, while speaking to The Athletic, Zucker said he’d love to sign a contract extension.

“Right now, that’s not something that is in my control,” Zucker said. “For me personally, it’s something I would be very interested in. If that time comes, we can have that conversation.”

Now, as the 4 Nations Face-Off arrives and Buffalo sits 12 points out of a wild-card spot, it’s fair to ask if the Sabres should keep him or trade him before the NHL trade deadline.

Zucker’s Impact On The Sabres

At 33 years old, Zucker brings a level of experience that Buffalo’s young core lacks – the Sabres still have the youngest lineup in the NHL, according to eliteprospects.com.

Known for his tenacity and scoring ability, he is a consistent presence in the lineup and appears poised to hit the 20-goal mark for the sixth time in his NHL career. His 41 points are tied for the fourth-most on the team.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff recently said that Zucker has been better than he thought, and Ruff had high expectations.

GM Kevyn Adams has already expressed interest in re-signing Zucker, meeting with his agent during a recent road trip. Zucker is a pending UFA this summer, and as the Sabres try to turn a corner, his ability to produce and mentor younger players could make him a valuable asset for a team that has struggled to attract proven veterans.

A Potential Trade Piece?

There is always a chance that Buffalo would be better off trading Zucker.

Their playoff hopes are fading. The team has already been mentioned in trade discussions regarding key players, such as Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens and Alex Tuch. Zucker could join that list, as contending teams may see him as an affordable rental option.

Cashing in on Zucker while his value is high might be the smarter long-term play rather than committing to a multi-year extension if the trade return to Buffalo helps the team compete next year.

While it might be unfair to question his leadership, Zucker received some heat for his comments after the Sabres were called out for not responding to a big hit on Tage Thompson. Zucker tried to explain it as a situation where the club was trying to win, although a win likely wouldn’t change their playoff chances based on their place in the standings.

“It’s such a learning curve when you have a young team,” Zucker later told Buffalo News. “There’s so many different aspects of it, and it makes it tough in certain situations knowing how to handle things properly.”

Related: NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Sabres’ Dylan Cozens And Avalanche’s Casey Mittelstadt

Was The Signing Worth It?

Ultimately, Zucker’s signing has been a success from a performance standpoint. He has provided what the Sabres hoped for – leadership, production, and trade value. That’s more than worth it.

The next question is whether re-signing him will be worth it.

The decision to extend or trade him will depend on where the Sabres place their priorities. If Adams believes this roster can contend in the near future, keeping Zucker as a veteran presence might be justified. If not, and Adams is trading several players at the deadline, flipping Zucker for assets would align better with a rebuilding timeline.

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Related: Sabres Faced Leadership Questions After Lack Of Response To Hit On Tage Thompson