Confirmed with Link: [NYR/NSH] Michael Del Zotto for Kevin Klein

[Ghost of jas]

Disagree. Klein is as solid defensively but is tougher in the corners and in front of the net. He will be a fan favorite at MSG in no time. Very good trade for the Rangers.

Not sure how your post contradicts what I said.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

lol

Sell it to "Silence of the Plams."

That ding dong will buy any jersey.

I heard he bought a Richards Tampa Bay jersey for $9.99

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I like Kevin Klein. What I've seen of him he's a good player. With that said I'm not sure that is the best the Rangers could do for DZ but he's a solid d-man and has some toughness. I think I'm going to have to see him on a more regular basis before I judge this as a good deal for us.

One thing I will say--last night against the Islanders neither Moore or DZ got a lot of ice time. I had the impression that AV did not want those two on the ice at all when Tavares was on the ice.

Pretty much.

Here's a deal where we gave up upside for solid dependability. Given that I think this team needs a major talent upgrade to compete with the big boys, I'm looking for us to be on the upside end of deals, which is why I'm meh on this transaction.

Hard not to like getting this type of player on his contract IF we already had the horses to compete with Pitt/Bos/Ana/Chi/StL. As it is, I'll like this deal a lot more if we can find upside elsewhere. Unfortunately, with Slats at the helm, I'm afraid this means we've just solidified our 2nd round exit instead of our 1st.

 

[BwayBshirt]

General question to throw out there...

Does Klein pretty much play the way that Sauer did before the concussion?

 

[Greg02]

The +s out weigh the -s here, unless MDZ fully develops his potential, which is possible.

Even if MDZ develops all the way in Nashville (I hope he does), it doesn't mean he would have had that opportunity here. He was playing behind multiple very good LHDs in a tough market.

 

[BigFatCat999]

Enjoy Kevin Klein's Mohawk.

If you don't do a Taxi Driver gif I will be highly disappointed.

 

[bobbop]

Damn. Now what am I going to do with the Del Zotto Stadium Series jersey......?

Get a Moore nameplate. He'll be switching numbers as soon as the body is cold.

 

[17futurecap]

Not going to throw any opinion on Klein, but went back to the thread where they signed him to the five year deal and everyone seemed happy with it. Seems like a solid deal for both teams, Rangers get a veteran signed to a solid deal for a long term, and the Preds take a chance on a guy who is still young, and has shown he can produce.

Good luck to MDZ on getting a fresh start. Will be interesting to see if the Preds sign him to a long term deal to buy some UFA years or just let him play on a 1 year qualifying deal next year.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

For those who asked, saw on twitter Klein will wear #8

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I feel like the Rangers just got Mike Sauer back.

I think Ill have to wait and see how this materializes. It sucks that we had to give up MDZ for such mediocre return, but Klein has a good contract which counts for something, and balances out the handedness on the back end. Its tough to blame the Rangers management on this one, other than maybe drafting him in the first place. No one wanted to take on what Mike has become. Its tough because at times, when he first came through the system I saw a lot of potential. I think part of the blame has to fall on MDZ here too.

 

[NYR Viper]

I feel like the Rangers just got Mike Sauer back.

Similar player. Won't drop the gloves as much but similar.

 

[Lime]

Don't know how to feel about this trade. In my eyes Del Zotto was a liability on the ice so as long as Klein is solid, I like it.

 

[Larry Melnyk]

Similar player. Won't drop the gloves as much but similar.

Maybe not as much, but probably better. And instantly the best fighter the Rangers have. Still, you don't want your 2nd pair D-men (which he will ultimately be) dropping the gloves often any way..

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Maybe not as much, but probably better. And instantly the best fighter the Rangers have. Still, you don't want your 2nd pair D-men (which he will ultimately be) dropping the gloves often any way..

He has 8 NHL fights. Hope hes not punch drunk!

 

[surf]

I don't recall Sauer dropping the gloves that much?? One thing for sure this guy throws bombs compared to Sauer...The fight he had last week with Rousell was impressive we haven't had someone open up like that since Orr

Similar player. Won't drop the gloves as much but similar.

 

[Larry Melnyk]

He has 8 NHL fights. Hope hes not punch drunk!

Unfortunately, that was a bit of a backhanded compliment regarding the state of Ranger fighters!....but..he's is still pretty tough

Check out his recent fight with ROUSSEL in Dallas ( http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/121700 ) and what he did to BOITANO and Dorsett a few months ago...( http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/120048)

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Another HUGE positive of this deal is John Moore finally gets to play with a vet. He needs a stay-at-home partner so he can open up his game and jump into the rush more.

Great point. Anyone know of Kleins footspeed? The Rangers play a pretty quick game in the transition, hopefully he has enough to get back. Probably does if hes played well in the West.

 

[Raspewtin]

Great point. Anyone know of Kleins footspeed? The Rangers play a pretty quick game in the transition, hopefully he has enough to get back. Probably does if hes played well in the West.

He's a very good skater.

 

[a tribe cq]

I don't recall Sauer dropping the gloves that much?? One thing for sure this guy throws bombs compared to Sauer...The fight he had last week with Rousell was impressive we haven't had someone open up like that since Orr

Sauer fought about 5 times a year or so.

Don't get used to Klein fighting like that though. He's not an Orr, heck he's not even a fighter for that matter. When he NEEDS to he will, but his #1 priority is banging and playing defense. He has three fights this season and that's his career single season mark already.

Just his prescence is intimidating though.

 

[NYR Viper]

Great point. Anyone know of Kleins footspeed? The Rangers play a pretty quick game in the transition, hopefully he has enough to get back. Probably does if hes played well in the West.

It's pretty good. He isn't McDonagh, but he isn't Falk either.

Maybe a little bit smoother skater than Girardi, not much.

 

[mike14]

hmm, MDZ gets traded and suddenly Lundqvist is feeling fine again.......

Haven't seen much of Klein as the Preds aren't on my "must watch list" but from limited viewings he does seem to be a very solid middle pairing type guy. It's a move that doesn't help increase our offensive from D in anyway, but there may be more moves to come

 

[eco's bones]

He has 8 NHL fights. Hope hes not punch drunk!

Klein is not really a fighter per se--he just fights well. Not that often. He plays with some sandpaper. He doesn't take many penalties though. Back in the 70's the Rangers had a guy named Ron Harris. I often hear about those 70's teams how tough Steve Vickers was--and he was. IMO Harris even though he was smaller was even tougher than Vickers. About the size of George McPhee and just as hard. Harris didn't fight often either but when he did he was bad news. Klein kind of reminds me in this way of Harris--though a little bigger than Harris.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Unfortunately, that was a bit of a backhanded compliment regarding the state of Ranger fighters!....but..he's is still pretty tough

Check out his recent fight with ROUSSEL in Dallas ( http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/121700 ) and what he did to BOITANO and Dorsett a few months ago...( http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/120048)

Yea, Im not complaining. I've always been a fan of steady, stay at home guys who mix it up when the time calls.

What perplexes me a bit is how this acquisition fits in the scope of the Rangers style of play. Seems like he would've been a really solid fit in the last regime. But now? Wasn't the flavor of the month D-men who could skate, jump up in the play, contribute to the offense? I thought they'd be on the lookout for a better version of Del Zotto. This guy looks like quite the opposite.

Did Sather and AV finally succumb to the constant defensive deficiencies that have plagued this team? Did Sather even consult AV? Did he just grab the first guy that was offered up that could be mistaken for a top 4 RD?

As usual, left with more questions than answers thanks to this GM.

 

[Lua]

So consensus is that Klein is a better skater than girardi. A better defender than stralman.

But he's not a top pair guy because??

Because he played second pair minutes

 

[NYR Viper]

Yea, Im not complaining. I've always been a fan of steady, stay at home guys who mix it up when the time calls.

What perplexes me a bit is how this acquisition fits in the scope of the Rangers style of play. Seems like he would've been a really solid fit in the last regime. But now? Wasn't the flavor of the month D-men who could skate, jump up in the play, contribute to the offense? I thought they'd be on the lookout for a better version of Del Zotto. This guy looks like quite the opposite.

Did Sather and AV finally succumb to the constant defensive deficiencies that have plagued this team? Did Sather even consult AV? Did he just grab the first guy that was offered up that could be mistaken for a top 4 RD?

As usual, left with more questions than answers thanks to this GM.

This I agree with. I made a post earlier in the thread saying as much. Where does the offense from the blue-line come from? McDonagh? Then who?

I am hoping they see an opportunity to bring in more offense from the blue-line elsewhere because while I like McIlrath, he isn't going to provide offense either.