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Let's Play Hockey!
 Wild Files: Andrei Zyuzin
| Name: Andrei Zyuzin | Height: 6'2" | Weight 210 |
| Birthday: 1/21/78 | Place: Ufa, Russia |
| Position: DEFENSE | Shoots: Left | 2003-04 Salary: $1,200,000 |
| Acquired: Waivers from New Jersey (2002) |
Andrei Zyuzin is one of those players who was drafted high and rushed to the NHL, but didn't live up to the lofty expectations that come with being a #2 overall pick. Minnesota is the fourth team for Zyuzin, who is young at just 25 years old. A clear sign of impatience from the teams who had him before. Defensemen develop slower than forwards...many teams lose sight of that.
When the Devils put Zyuzin on waivers in 2002, the Wild was quick to snatch him up. With a little tutoring from the greatest coach in hockey, Zyuzin has developed into a solid second line defenseman. His puck control and skating make him a valuable member of the Minnesota blue line. Zyuzin averaged 21.6 minutes per game in 2002-03, good for third on the team. In the playoffs that number increased to 23 minutes per game, a sure sign that Minnesota was comfortable having him on the ice when it mattered. In 67 regular season games he tallied four goals and 13 assists.
With only average depth at defense in the system, Zyuzin should be allowed to develop more as a member of the Wild. With more grooming by Lemaire, it's possible he could flourish into the top-tier defenseman the Sharks were looking for when the drafted him so high. But even if he doesn't reach those levels, he has still turned out to be a bargain for the Wild.
OUR TAKE
Andrei has developed into an important player on this team. As long as he continues to accept Lemaire's lessons and develop as a player, he'll be a steady presence on Minnesota's blue line for many years to come.
NOTES:None
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