Zuccarello ‘Pretty Ticked’ At Minnesota Wild, 2 Rival Teams Linked To Pending UFA

It doesn't appear as if 38-year-old Mats Zuccarello will be finishing his career with the Minnesota Wild. A report from Joe Smith & Michael Russo in The Athletic tells us that the pending unrestricted free agent is 'pretty ticked' with his incumbent team.

Any last hopes of a Mats Zuccarello extension with the Minnesota Wild before July 1 are officially dead.@RussoHockey and @JoeSmithNHL are reporting that he's pissed... and now dead set on hitting free agency.

"According to league sources, granted anonymity to discuss talks… pic.twitter.com/UMnwkdeoJj

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) June 28, 2026

"According to league sources, granted anonymity to discuss talks that aren’t public, Zuccarello is pretty ticked about how things have gone. So even if the Wild circled back, there’s a very good bet he’d test free agency with so many teams in need of a point-producing winger like him."

They then go on to name the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks as two rival clubs that would make sense as frontrunners for Zuccarello's services, entering his age-39 season. 

Why Zuccarello is upset with the Wild

Russo & Smith explain that GM Bill Guerin has had to put their longtime winger "on the back burner" while they juggle the possibility of being able to swing a trade for the suddenly available Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. 

What's more, it sounds like the Norwegian forward was about to be split up from his best bud and longtime linemate. 

"It also appears they’re ready to move away from the pairing of him and long-time linemate and good friend Kirill Kaprizov. 

"The two have been inseparable, with Zuccarello a key mentor in transitioning the Russian superstar into the league... But the Wild feel Kaprizov relied too heavily on Zuccarello. They want him to start developing chemistry with other players and rid himself of the east-west hockey the elite-passing Zuccarello loves to play."

Kind of sounds like Minnesota is looking to phase Zuccarello out, which, unsurprisingly, has led to his displeasure with the team. 

Despite his age, he's bound to find plenty of takers on the open market in addition to the Ducks and Kings, with the UFA pickings extremely slim this year. 

He's coming off a two-year deal with a $4.13 million AAV.