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Report: Zuccarello out of KHL deal, will join Rangers

Sweden Hockey NY Rangers LA Kings

NY Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello with the puck during a NHL hockey match between LA Kings and NY Rangers in Stockholm, Sweden, Friday, Oct. 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Niklas Larsson)

AP

It shouldn’t be long now before Mats Zuccarello rejoins the New York Rangers.

The 25-year-old Norwegian forward has been released by his KHL team, according to an ESPN source. That clears the way for Zuccarello to return to the NHL after recently agreeing to terms with the Rangers.

Zuccarello is an unimposing 5-foot-7, but he should boost the Rangers offensively after putting up point-per-game numbers in the AHL last season and 28 points in 44 KHL games in 2012-13.

“There’s no secret we need to score more goals,” Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said. “Bringing a guy in that can create offense definitely will help the team.”

In fact, the Rangers are the second-worst team in the league with an average of 2.26 goals per game.

Zuccarello will earn a prorated $700,000, according to the New York Posts’ Larry Brooks. The deal will expire this summer.