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

[slipknottin]

there is a big discrepancy between a 1st rounder and a 29 year old defensemen.

I would think the value isnt all that dissimilar. Klein if traded for just picks would probably go for an early 2nd.

So its about the same, IMO.

Nobody would budge on the first round deal, it seemed, so he took the next best option

 

[cd211]

yeah i know a flew have already mentioned this, but yeah i also saw and heard a few weeks back on Boomer & Carton show, Boomer was saying rangers are trading MDZ for Klein..

all in all from what i saw on the Nsh board, they we're looking for another Klein and not a DZ type player.. so i think its fair value, consider we lock down a dman pretty cheap for the next 4 years..

Stralman is prob a gonner if G is resigned.. Can't have all that cash flow tied down on D..

 

[Greg02]

I would think the value isnt all that dissimilar. Klein if traded for just picks would probably go for an early 2nd.

So its about the same, IMO.

I don't think he means in value, but rather in philosophy.

That said, you get a late teens/early 20s first rounder, and you wait three years, you very well might end up with Michael Del Zotto.

Also, I'm totally being annoying with this, but in the off chance someone knows... does Nashville happen to play man? Will Klein have a long adjustment period to AV's system?

 

[Tawnos]

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.

Klein isn't an immobile defenseman. He's a very good skater, he just happens to have a defensive orientation. If they wanted a better version, or a right-handed version, of Del Zotto, I'm sure Nashville would have rather parted with Ryan Ellis. I also think that your read on what the Rangers wanted wasn't right, since the only player we know for sure they asked for in exchange for DZ was Marc Methot. What I get from that and the acquisition of Klein is that Sather and AV wanted a D who is mobile in the defensive zone. The kind of player who is capable of playing a man-to-man defense well. Nashville, by the way, uses a man system as well, albeit it's more of a hybrid than the Rangers is. He fits our style of play, defensively, with perfection... at least on paper.

 

[Vitto79]

Yeah, a top 4 right handed defenseman is garbage. Definitely.

Some people don't see the big picture. Team is better right now. Dz was doing hack and they bedew to balance the pairs

 

[Greg02]

Well, that answers my question. Thanks Tawnos.

 

[eco's bones]

This is a playoffs move as well. Having a reliable steady guy you can count on on the bottom pair or who can move up to the second pair. A player who will make the team just a bit tougher to play against. Last night against the Isles DZ got 12 minutes of ice time--Moore about 13 and a half. AV clearly did not want them facing the Islanders big skilled line of Tavares, Okposo and Vanek. Get into the playoffs **** like that will be an every game occurrence. Klein can hang in better against those types.

Not sure if the Rangers though make this move if DZ wasn't up for another RFA negotiation this summer--one that guaranteed he'd be getting at least $2.9 mil annum. That's a tough pill to swallow for a guy who is not playing well and who doesn't have the faith of the coaching staff especially in the area of his game where he's strongest--offensive creativity. If there were to be another RFA negotiation after that he could be a $5 mil per annum player before he hits UFA. He has to have much better numbers to deserve that kind of paycheck.

 

[Green Blob*]

He's better than MDZ so it's a win trade

 

[Raspewtin]

This is a playoffs move as well. Having a reliable steady guy you can count on on the bottom pair or who can move up to the second pair. A player who will make the team just a bit tougher to play against. Last night against the Isles DZ got 12 minutes of ice time--Moore about 13 and a half. AV clearly did not want them facing the Islanders big skilled line of Tavares, Okposo and Vanek. Get into the playoffs **** like that will be an every game occurrence. Klein can hang in better against those types.

Not sure if the Rangers though make this move if DZ wasn't up for another RFA negotiation this summer--one that guaranteed he'd be getting at least $2.9 mil annum. That's a tough pill to swallow for a guy who is not playing well and who doesn't have the faith of the coaching staff especially in the area of his game where he's strongest--offensive creativity. If there were to be another RFA negotiation after that he could be a $5 mil per annum player before he hits UFA. He has to have much better numbers to deserve that kind of paycheck.

I don't agree with calling it a "playoff move". This is a good longterm move for the Rangers, as it gives them stability on the right side, and at least a fallback if Girardi were to leave the team. A playoff move implies you sacrifice long term to be better short term. Del Zotto is not an answer long term or short term, moving DZ had to happen IMO.

 

[eco's bones]

I don't agree with calling it a "playoff move". This is a good longterm move for the Rangers, as it gives them stability on the right side, and at least a fallback if Girardi were to leave the team. A playoff move implies you sacrifice long term to be better short term. Del Zotto is not an answer long term or short term, moving DZ had to happen IMO.

It's actually both. A playoff move to round out the defense with a more reliable guy and a long term move and an insurance policy to have a competent right side D-man for the next few years.

 

[PavelBure9]

I don't agree with calling it a "playoff move". This is a good longterm move for the Rangers, as it gives them stability on the right side, and at least a fallback if Girardi were to leave the team. A playoff move implies you sacrifice long term to be better short term. Del Zotto is not an answer long term or short term, moving DZ had to happen IMO.

It's a good five year move. This moves gives the core a chance to win, financially and by game by game performance.

 

[Tawnos]

Well, that answers my question. Thanks Tawnos.

Hey no problem! I answer questions through anticipation.

By the way, I just want to pat myself on the back and mention that I called DZ to Nashville as soon as he went on the block back in October or November. Said either Ellis or Klein. Feels good.

 

[LORENZO]

DZ has been the worst thing about both rangers games I went to, sloppy mistakes and way off the pace.

 

[Raspewtin]

It's actually both. A playoff move to round out the defense with a more reliable guy and a long term move and an insurance policy to have a competent right side D-man for the next few years.

Those are the kind of moves I can live with. Short term and long term help.

A move like a 2nd round pick for Martin Erat is the **** that I do not like.

 

[silverfish]

And to think I thought of the best post for MDZ this morning

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Supposedly he can also skate. Not that he is an offensive threat, but can close the gaps in the neutral zone, bluelines. People worrying about offensive production from our back line, seem to forget what has turned our season around. And that is being solid defensively. Now and in the playoffs, that is the recipe for success. Losing Del Zaster, and gaining Klein will be such a marked improvement in our progress moving forward. With this one trade, I see alot more wins.

I've been wanting to say this. We keep asking where the offense will come from on the back end - and, in some lights, it's a very valid question - but let's not lose site of how the D really creates offense. It's by keeping the puck out of our end altogether and getting it out quickly when it is there. That is what Klein does. He does have a decent, simple first pass. He's not going to sauce it down the middle to a streaking man, but he's also not going to cough it up and get pinned in his end. He'll get it out. And with his speed and ability to close gaps, he'll help keep it out as well. No matter how you slice it, less time in our end, more time in the offensive zone, especially trying to be a possession team, can only lead to good things.

Ignoring age and where they were drafted and just looking at the contributions of the player departing versus the contributions of the player we're receiving, this trade is going to instantly make us better. Doesn't matter who Klein plays with. Our defensive depth and stability is greatly enhanced. He genuinely could play with McD and do well. He can play with Staal to form another strong shutdown pairing. He can play with Moore or Allen to add stability to a young, learning player. Wherever he plays, we will be better.

 

[Clausewitz]

I don't understand this obsession with "winning" a trade. First, trades are not zero-sum games, and, second, only one question matters: are better now than we were before? DZ and J-Moore were redundant, and we needed another RHD. And we aren't the only ones trying to maximize value. The point is that we exchanged an underperforming (and overpriced) asset for a fairly-priced and proven asset that addresses a core weakness of ours.

 

[Vidic15*]

I think in the back of our minds we all wanted a Gog for Neal, Niskanen type deal. It just wasn't going to happen. That was a masterful fleecing. I'm just thankful we had ours in Gomez for McDonagh.

BTW, I like this deal.

 

[FOD]

Klein was traded because Jones is progressing to the point where he needs to be on the 2nd pairing.

Klein's minutes were falling as Jones minutes were rising. Jones can play both sides but plays far better on the right side, Klein, only plays on the right side so something had to give.

The interesting thing will be the left side of the second pairing now. Will it be Ekholm or MDZ?

What do you guys think? Can the Jones-MDZ pairing a solid 2nd pairing? Jones can skate, and has a high IQ but is still prone to some rooking mistakes.

As one of the few Del Zotto fans on this board, I would be very wary of pairing him with a rookie right now. Alot of upside potential offensively, but still makes rookie mistakes defensively (and with the puck for that matter). And this is after 4 1/2 years in the league.

 

[FOD]

I don't understand this obsession with "winning" a trade. First, trades are not zero-sum games, and, second, only one question matters: are better now than we were before? DZ and J-Moore were redundant, and we needed another RHD. And we aren't the only ones trying to maximize value. The point is that we exchanged an underperforming (and overpriced) asset for a fairly-priced and proven asset that addresses a core weakness of ours.

I absolutely agree with this post. DZ and Moore as a pairing never made sense to me as they seem like very similar players. Moore is actually younger and possibly better defensively which made DZ expendable since they didn't want to pay him.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

I'm content with this deal. Think we made out okay despite nuking DZs value.

 

[ltsthinaz]

I think in the back of our minds we all wanted a Gog for Neal, Niskanen type deal. It just wasn't going to happen. That was a masterful fleecing. I'm just thankful we had ours in Gomez for McDonagh.

BTW, I like this deal.

In my judgment, MDZ for a bag of pucks, a Dolly Parton poster, and a guitar pick was a win for the Rangers. Getting a player who's better than MDZ on a good contract who plays the position we need him to play and where we can also move Moore to where he's better suited, is a win-win.

 

[gabevh3]

Now everyboy is a MDZ fan lol. Seriously though Sather tried to get a great return for MDZ but nobody was interested. Klein is a pretty good defensemen, he isnt gonna be a offensive defensemen but he is tough which we need more of. Sure its not a tremendous return but MDZ wasnt ever gonna bring back anything great

Should have taken the offer of Diaz and a prospect*.
sather always waits until a player has no value to make a trade.

 

[BrianLeetch2]

I just wanted to clarify. I love this trade.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Heard it from a Preds fan that Klein has a lot of experience being paired with younger guys like Josi, Ellis, etc. Maybe I'm expecting too much, but I'm hoping he can help stabilize J.Moore's game, maybe his presence on a pair with Moore will bring out last year's Moore.