Michael Del Zotto

[richardsequalscup*]

Del Zotto is in high demand around the league. He's the first name that comes up in all these trade discussions. However, with the addition of Moore, I'm thinking the Rangers would deal him if they thought Staal was absolutely going to make it back.

They could get a serious return for Del Zotto.

 

[Cake or Death]

I'm not ready to trade him and I was preaching patience last season when it came to MDZ, but the numbers above aren't great for a guys whose strength is supposed to be the offensive part of his game..

Lets take a look at those numbers...

This season MDZ #33 21 pts PP/TOI/G 2:38 38% of points on the PP...McD #41 19 pts. PP/TOI/G 0:38 5.2% of points on the PP. MDZ played 1 less game.

11-12 season MDZ #18 41 pts PP/TOI/G 4:11 34% of points on the PP...McD #34 32 pts PP/TOI/G 0:37 6.25% of points on the PP. MDZ played 5 less games.

I didn't say they were great, I said they were "pretty impressive." Whatever you want to label them, they are very good for a guy who's only 22. My point was, which I said, was that "we can't always complain about weaknesses and perceived weaknesses without also giving due credit for successes." Mainly I'm just baffled people want to trade constantly. We lose a game or two and trade proposals pop up. Its insane.

And to respond to what you did say, should I care if a guy scores ES or the PP? If he's scoring either way, or both, a goal is a goal. Frankly I'm impressed that DZ can score as he does with a system that literally is built opposite his strengths. And when comparing him to McDonagh, let's try and remember they play very different styles and also that DZ is still a year younger than McDonagh.

 

[richardsequalscup*]

If MDZ didn't miss a few games last year he had a chance to be in the top 10 for defenseman in scoring. He has become the whipping boy for many Rangers fans because they forwards stink so bad with Torts loser system that they gave up on them scoring and proceed to bash a 21-22 kid if his makes one mistake which causes the team to lose 2-1.

That pretty much sums up a lot of our fans on MDZ. There is a reason why teams ask for him first in every deal. He's very talented and has already shown that he can play great hockey in long stretches at 21-22 years of age.

That being said, you always have to look at the return you will get for a player. Anybody can be dealt if the return makes sense.

 

[doncherrysgrill]

It is the amazing how things change on HF. One year ago MDZ was untouchable and part of the core. Now lots of posters want him traded?

Don't think anybody was really saying this, and I actually was suggesting DZ be part of the Nash trade a year ago.

The guy is supposed to be an offensive defenseman but has one of the most average shots I've seen. His only real strength is stretch passes, which is great and all but there's more to the game than that. His shot is bad, his decision making is bad on both ends of the ice, his defensive awareness is TERRIBLE. If I have to see DZ just sprawl out on the ice instead of trying to make a defensive play one more time I'm going to throw my TV out the window.

DZ has high value, and the Rangers have other needs to address. In McDonagh, Staal, and Moore the Rangers have the best left side in the entire league. If Staal is going to be healthy going forward, you have to seriously explore trying to move DZ for a piece that can fit in right now.

 

[NHRangerfan]

I didn't say they were great, I said they were "pretty impressive." Whatever you want to label them, they are very good for a guy who's only 22. My point was, which I said, was that "we can't always complain about weaknesses and perceived weaknesses without also giving due credit for successes." Mainly I'm just baffled people want to trade constantly. We lose a game or two and trade proposals pop up. Its insane.

And to respond to what you did say, should I care if a guy scores ES or the PP? If he's scoring either way, or both, a goal is a goal. Frankly I'm impressed that DZ can score as he does with a system that literally is built opposite his strengths. And when comparing him to McDonagh, let's try and remember they play very different styles and also that DZ is still a year younger than McDonagh.

I never said to trade him but you can't look at numbers in a vacuum...I merely pointed out that for a guy whose "strength" is the offensive part of his game, has pretty similar numbers to a teammate whose "strength" is the defensive part of his game...
you may not care about the ES/PP point splits, but I think it's even more of an indictment of MDZ's "offensive" skills and I think if McD had more PP time his offensive numbers could be as good and probably better IMHO. I think pointing out the minutes per game each plays on the PP and the impact on their point totals is pretty relevant especially given the extreme difference that each get on the PP.

Yes McD is a year older than MDZ, but MDZ has one more year of NHL experience.

 

[Mikos87]

Fans are quick to forget when Staal went out and Mac struggled, DZ handled the hard mins for a stretch there. Thing with him is sustaining that high level play. He can do it, fans want to see it.

Let's just not attack this kid when you're having a manic episode and see how much of an asset he can be.

 

[Swept In Seven]

Put one of those ****ing clappers on the net during the powerplay and see if that works Mikey

 

[Vickers8]

Fans are quick to forget when Staal went out and Mac struggled, DZ handled the hard mins for a stretch there. Thing with him is sustaining that high level play. He can do it, fans want to see it.

Let's just not attack this kid when you're having a manic episode and see how much of an asset he can be.

That was before Torts neutered him by taking away his best attribute, joining the rush...

 

[Kwayry]

Great game by DZ tonight.
The goal was an attempted shot pass to zuke. Looking at the replay he was going to hit the blade, for once these series

 

[doncherrysgrill]

Even though DZ had a goal, still not impressed with his overall game. Watching the Caps get some early chances it seemed like he was the guy who kept blowing his defensive assignments. Maybe if I watch it again I'll see something different, but early on I was really unhappy about the way he was playing. Focused a lot more on the positive once it was 3-0 though!