Mats Zuccarello has been a pretty good player for the Rangers over the last few seasons, but if you want to play in New York, you might want to stay away from him.
For the second off-season in a row, Zuccarello watched as a good friend was traded away. Last summer it was Carl Hagelin going to the Ducks, this summer it was Derrick Brassard being shipped to Ottawa.
“I know it’s the business, I understand that,” said Zuccarello, per the New York Post. “Management is doing what they think is best for the team to make us better.
“But as a human being and a friend, I don’t appreciate it. I’ve lost my two best friends, and in that way I don’t think about hockey. Personally, I’m really sad to lose them.”
Losing Hagelin didn’t affect Zuccarello’s play on the ice, as he led the Rangers with 61 points in 81 games in 2015-16. But the loss of Brassard might be a little different. The two players played together quite a bit over the last few seasons.
Zuccarello has some advice for current and future Ranger teammates:
“Don’t be friends with me or else you might be traded.”