Jason Zucker isn’t the hero the Pittsburgh Penguins want, but the hero they need

Jason Zucker is the hero the Pittsburgh Penguins crave right now.

It is a weird period for the Pittsburgh Penguins right now who appear to be staring at a closed window with the glory days seemingly over, and they need someone in the ilk of Jason Zucker to step up.

Just how do you solve a problem like the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, one of the premier franchises in the National Hockey League have been dealt an early postseason exit in each of the last three seasons, including a First Round sweep to the New York Islanders in 2018-19.

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It all culminated in an embarrassing loss and collapse to the Montreal Canadiens in the best-of-five Play-In Round during the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading to somewhat of a retool by General Manager Jim Rutherford.

Goalie and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Matt Murray was dealt to the Ottawa Senators, veteran and key part of the core Patric Hornqvist was traded to the Florida Panthers, other veterans were let go and Rutherford also stuck to his blueprint by bringing former players back in Kasperi Kapanen, who was drafted by Pittsburgh No. 22 overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Whether the Pittsburgh Penguins are actually a better and improved team in 2020-21, however, is a loaded question but they will always be a contender and looked upon as a win-now team as long as Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and, of course, Sidney Crosby remain on the roster.

As such, the Penguins are somewhat of an enigma and they seem stuck in the time warp, still trying to win now for their franchise icons but unable to rebuild and replenish a badly depleted farm system as a direct result.

Therefore, there is no doubt that Pittsburgh will be approaching the 2020-21 season as they have every other season since Crosby exploded on to the scene – to win and to capture the greatest prize in all of sports.

And that’s where Jason Zucker comes in.

Acquired by the Penguins in a trade from the Minnesota Wild for forward Alex Galchenyuk, defenseman prospect Calen Addison and a First Round pick on Feb. 11, 2020, Zucker gave Pittsburgh another potent weapon to add to their already loaded top-six forward unit.

In 15 games with the Pens, and filling in on Crosby’s top line with Jake Guentzel injured, Zucker put up 12 points (6 G, 6 A) in 15 regular season games with a plus / minus rating of -1, while the forward had just two points (2 G, O A) in four postseason games.

He meshed well with Crosby and, with Guentzel back and raring to go for the 2020-21 season, Zucker could prove to be a real weapon for Malkin on that second line, giving the Penguins a deadly one-two punch on the left-wing as well as at center.

With at least 40 points in each of his last four seasons, including a career-high 64 points (33 G, 31 A) during the 2017-18 season, Zucker has the skills, the intangibles and the drive needed to really add some much-needed offensive punch to this Penguins lineup.

And, given their various shortfalls and flaws, Pittsburgh will need Zucker to step up and play at a career-high level in 2020-21.

They need Zucker to help ease the load on Crosby and Malkin and even Guentzel, with Pittsburgh’s own version of the “Fantastic Four” maybe enough to propel this team back into true contender status once again.

Now, granted, the Pens will also need stellar goaltending from Tristan Jarry who is now the undisputed No. 1 goalie, they will need the likes of Letang and Guentzel to stay healthy, they will need much better play from their blueline and they will need contributions and secondary scoring from a mishmash bottom six forward unit.

But, if Zucker can elevate his play somewhat and form a lethal understanding with Malkin, one that can produce a boatload of offense and creativity, then the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a shot at being very competitive in the East during what will be a shortened 2020-21 regular season.

Zucker will also need to get hot in the postseason and also play a big role on the power play if his team are to advance past the Second Round for the first time since the 2016-17 season, maybe even giving Crosby and Malkin a shot at another ring and hockey immortality.

Plus, Zucker plays a real north/south and hard-nosed brand of hockey that fits the Penguins’ style, and he’s a polished all-round forward who can do a bit of everything, make an impact in all three zones, both score and create goals and he can easily crack 30 goals and 70 points in his first full season with the Penguins.

Also under contract through the 2022-23 season, Zucker can be a key contributor for the Penguins for multiple seasons and perhaps even help to stretch their win-now window out a little bit longer.

Every superstar needs a reliable running mate who can come up clutch in the biggest moments and be relied upon at all times, and Jason Zucker can be that for Sidney Crosby, Evegni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020-21 as they bid to stay relevant and try to remain a true contender.

Jason Zucker can be their hero.