SURPRISE

Okay, maybe not…

Mats Zuccarello has been recalled. No secret there. Everyone was all over it Sunday.

Here’s the official release:

NEW YORK RANGERS TRANSACTION UPDATE
New York, December 27, 2010 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Mats Zuccarello has been recalled from the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Zuccarello, 23, registered an assist on the power play, game-winning goal in yesterday’s 4-0 win at Bridgeport, and has now recorded 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in his last 21 AHL games with four goals and five assists in his last seven contests.  Zuccarello has tallied 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points, along with 16 penalty minutes in 33 games this season.  He is tied for second among AHL rookies and ranks third on the team in goals, and ranks fourth in the league among rookies and fourth on the Whale in scoring with 25 points.  He also ranks third on the team with 98 shots on goal, and is tied for fourth in assists and power play goals (three).  Zuccarello posted an AHL career-high, four points, including his first career hat trick in a 7-1 win vs. Bridgeport on November 7.  He made his AHL debut on October 9 vs. Charlotte, and tallied his first career point with a goal on October 15 at Albany.  Zuccarello made his NHL debut in a 4-3 shootout loss vs. Tampa Bay on Thursday, logging 17:52 of ice time and notching a goal in the shootout.

The Oslo, Norway native signed with the Rangers as a free agent on May 26, 2010