This summer, there were no questions, no worries about what might happen when he returned to the ice. Instead, Zuccarello was flying, coming off his best season in the NHL, playing for Norway in 2018 PyeongChang Olympic qualifying games and readying to play for Team Europe in the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

So, yes, things are different now.

"It's been good," Zuccarello said Wednesday after practice at Videotron Centre. "I've been enjoying myself. When you get injured like that you get scared, and I feel lucky I came back as strong as I did, with help from my teammates, the [New York] Rangers, friends, family. They all stood by me all the time and helped me to get where I am today.

"So I'm really happy. I'm just enjoying every minute here right now."

Nothing ever has been assured for Zuccarello, the 5-foot-7 native of Oslo, Norway, who overcame his country's less-than-prominent position on the world stage, his size and his doubters to become a valuable member of the Rangers. But it was never more in trouble than a year and a half ago, on April 24, 2015, when Zuccarello was struck in the head by a puck shot by Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

Zuccarello sustained a fractured skull and bleeding in his brain, along with a brain contusion. He lost the ability to speak for four days, and had weakness on his right side. He had to relearn things that always had come naturally.

"Would it be the same?" he asked himself. "What's it going to be like going on the ice after this? Stuff like that. It was a tough summer. A lot of thoughts went through your mind. But when you get on the ice, yeah, you don't really think about it much."

Zuccarello came back even better than he had left, at least in terms of his on-ice results. He had personal NHL highs in goals (26) and points (61) in 81 games, and was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy.

And then he took off again, again raising his team and his country, as Norway qualified for the 2018 Olympics, getting past France, Kazakhstan and Italy in its qualifying group. That has left him ready for the next challenge, a spot on the top line for Team Europe, alongside left wing Mikkel Boedker and center Anze Kopitar.

"He's a free spirit who also plays free-spirited," coach Ralph Krueger said.

Zuccarello, Boedker and Kopitar already are engaged, talking in pre-practice meetings, communicating in a way that Krueger likes to see. He sees potential for the line, sees potential in Zuccarello.

"You can see the communication going on," Krueger said. "They understand each other's strengths, which is what we're looking for here. We're focusing on their strengths, Show us what you're good at. Show us what you can do, and that's what we're hoping to see as coaches, that we get to see what the individuals are good at. And we then put them in the spots, set them up for some success.

"Let's find out what they do and let's get them in those spots, and Mats is one that's surprising. And his free spirit makes him extremely dangerous every time he's on the ice. And if you have the right support, that's an interesting element."

It helps, too, that all three of the players on the line come into the tournament in game-ready shape from playing in Olympic qualifying tournaments. In addition to Zuccarello with Norway, Boedker was with Denmark and Kopitar was with Slovenia.

"It's getting better, for sure," Zuccarello said of hockey in his home country. "It's been a little hyped now. We made the two Olympics. The last couple years it's been really good. So a lot of younger guys start playing hockey and it's getting more and more popular, so it's good. It's improving and getting in the right direction."

So, too, is Zuccarello, who would love to see more of his countrymen in the NHL. And although he isn't quite sure whether he can replicate his success from last season, he's more than willing to try.

"I'm just trying to do my best and help the team win," he said. "I played with really good players that have helped me achieve what I achieved throughout the years, so it's all about your teammates, you know? You're as good as your teammates."

Could he replicate his 26 goals? Perhaps score 30?

"It would be fun to score 30, but I don't know if I have that in me," Zuccarello said. "Hopefully 20, maybe. I never set goals. Just trying to have fun and play hockey. Just got lucky [last season]. They just went in, so that's good."