Coyotes forward Jason Zucker expected to return from injury by Veterans’ Day
Arizona Coyotes forward Jason Zucker is expected to return to the lineup from his injury-related absence by the team’s game against the Nashville Predators on November 11.
PHNX Sports hockey reporter Craig Morgan shared an update on Zucker’s status via Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong on Thursday evening.
Armstrong indicated that Zucker, who suffered a lower-body injury in the Coyotes’ home opener against the Anaheim Ducks on October 21, is making progress in his recovery and is in line to come back by Veterans’ Day.
The Coyotes are slated to take on the Nashville Predators for a road game at Bridgestone Arena on the evening of November 11.
An injury update for the Coyotes:
GM Bill Armstrong said that F Jason Zucker (lower body) should be able to return to the lineup by the game in Nashville on Nov. 11.
Zucker was injured in the home opener against Anaheim on Oct. 21.
Zucker, 31, joined the Coyotes by signing a one-year, $5.3 million contract with the club on July 1. The 5’11” winger collected two points (both goals) in five games with the Coyotes before being injured.
The Minnesota Wild originally selected Zucker in the second round (No. 59 overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. The Newport Beach, California product played for the Wild from 2012 until he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020.
Zucker left the Penguins in 2023 to sign with the Coyotes as an unrestricted free agent. He is one of three former Wild players on the Coyotes, along with Nick Bjugstad and Matt Dumba; additionally, Jack McBain was drafted by the Wild in 2018, while Logan Cooley played at the University of Minnesota.
The Coyotes were highly active in the 2023 unrestricted free agency period, adding Zucker, Dumba, Travis Dermott, and Alex Kerfoot while bringing back former players Bjugstad and Troy Stecher. The club also traded for defenseman Sean Durzi from the Los Angeles Kings.
Through 633 career NHL games over parts of 13 seasons with the Wild, Penguins, and Coyotes, Zucker has collected 184 goals and 340 points. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent again in 2024.