Well, not exactly Zorro, but Michael Del Zotto has put his “Z” on a Rangers contract. How this translates into the future is anyone’s guess. Our expert on all things involving the juniors, Jess Rubinstein of The Prospect Park, has stated on numerous times both there and here that he felt Del Z would spend next season in the juniors. It is a safe bet though that he will get a long look in training camp as the defensive corps for the Rangers is about to go through another face lift.
Here’s the official release:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Del Zotto.
Del Zotto, 18, skated in 62 games with the Oshawa Generals and London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, registering 13 goals and 50 assists for 63 points, along with 78 penalty minutes. The two-time OHL All-Star finished the season ranked sixth among all OHL defensemen in scoring and assists, while his 50 assists tied for 11th in the league overall. He also ranked fifth in the league with 32 power play assists. Del Zotto recorded the sixth longest assist streak in the OHL this season, registering an assist in seven straight contests from February 1 at Ottawa to February 16 at Guelph (nine assists). In addition, he posted 14 multi-point games, including five, three-point efforts. In the postseason with London, Del Zotto led the team with 16 assists and tied for fourth on the Knights with 19 points in 14 games. His 16 assists ranked second among all OHL defensemen in the playoffs, while his 19 points finished third among league blueliners.
The 6-0, 195-pound defenseman has skated in 190 career OHL games with Oshawa and London, collecting 39 goals and 144 assists for 183 points, along with 238 penalty minutes. Last season, Del Zotto tied for third among all OHL defensemen in scoring with 63 points and ranked fourth with a career-high, 16 goals. He also tied for fifth in the league overall with five shorthanded goals. The second overall pick in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection, Del Zotto was twice named OHL Defensemen of the Month – November 2006 and December 2007.
The native of Stouffville, Ontario was the Rangers’ first round choice, 20th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The selection marked the third time in four years the Rangers have chosen a defenseman in the first round, having drafted Marc Staal with the 12th overall pick in 2005 and Bobby Sanguinetti with the 21st overall pick in 2006.
(Del Zotto photo courtesy of Newsday.com)
I look at it a little differently than most. It’s not how good Del Zotto is;it’s how bad the Rangers Power Play is and how essential someguy like this guy is. From what I have heard this guy has good offensive instincts on the back line. Nobody on the Rangers presently has. And if he has any defensive failings, there are plenty of defensive players to back him up. Also keep in mind that at the start of his last season playing with Stamkos,he was ranked right up there with the best of the defensive draftees at the start of the season he was drafted. It was only during the season that he got a downward revision. I think he will stay with the Rangers because Ranger Management is not confident that anyone else can help offensively on the D unless Gilroy overwhelms everyone in training camp.Tortella is looking for a guy like the player he trained in Tampa Bay-Dan Boyle. Ranger mgmt(probably most of all Renney and Perry Pearn) thought Redden would be the guy to help the Power Play.No luck.If you fine tune the Power Play ,maybe add St Louis or equivalent,team should compete much better.
Sorry RCM but I am a fan of DZ but the concerns about his defense are legit enough that IMO it cost Del Zotto an invite to Team Canada’s Evaluation Camp (and they have some great defenders).
DZ needs more work on defense but also some time to become a leader on the ice as well.
Playing for Dale Hunter is not a bad thing and it will help DZ with his overall game