Zolnierczyk was never drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL) but played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators.

After being cut by the Flyers on October 4, 2011, following his first NHL training camp and pre-season, Zolnierczyk was assigned to the Phantoms to begin his first full professional ice hockey season.

[15] Later on in the Islanders' 2014–15 season, he was recalled to the team along with Colin McDonald after injuries sidelined forwards Michael Grabner and Cal Clutterbuck,[16] but was returned to the Sound Tigers after two games.

[20] As a free agent in the off-season, the Florida Panthers signed Zolnierczyk to a professional try-out contract to attend training camp on August 31, 2017.

[22] Having played two seasons within the Predators organization, Zolnierczyk as a free agent again acquainted with the Florida Panthers, securing a one-year AHL contract with affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, on July 12, 2018.

[23] As a free agent and having left the Thunderbirds, Zolnierczyk agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack, affiliate to the New York Rangers, on July 1, 2019.