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Talk Slowly and Use Small Words, its the Michael Del Zotto Thread

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He is just SO much better on the left side. Plays with more confidence, is more communicative, passes worlds better and is actually an impact player. Hell, I'd say he even gets his shot on net more from the left side. It's amazing really.

If they can't get real value for MDZ, I'd honestly be okay with trading Staal and keeping him instead. Just never, ever play him on the right again.
 
BrooklynRangersFan said:
He is just SO much better on the left side. Plays with more confidence, is more communicative, passes worlds better and is actually an impact player. Hell, I'd say he even gets his shot on net more from the left side. It's amazing really.

If they can't get real value for MDZ, I'd honestly be okay with trading Staal and keeping him instead. Just never, ever play him on the right again.
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I agree with the left side/right side bit. For me, if they can't get value for him, then I would rather they hold on to all of their D for now. I have been VERY down on Staal's play this year, but Marc Staal has earned more time to adjust/show that this isn't just a rough stretch. Staal at his best is a McDonough level player. MDZ at his best isn't quite to that level.

Maybe revisit the situation at the trade deadline, but I would hate to move Staal and then see that it was just a rough stretch of games.
 
smoneil said:
I agree with the left side/right side bit. For me, if they can't get value for him, then I would rather they hold on to all of their D for now. I have been VERY down on Staal's play this year, but Marc Staal has earned more time to adjust/show that this isn't just a rough stretch. Staal at his best is a McDonough level player. MDZ at his best isn't quite to that level.

Maybe revisit the situation at the trade deadline, but I would hate to move Staal and then see that it was just a rough stretch of games.
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Yeah, but you've still got four defensemen on the big club who are LDs, all of whom are worthy to play, arguably to play top 4. You've GOT to flip one of them to address needs elsewhere. (And, while I hear what you're saying about Staal, there is the dual concern of the eye injury and the possibility that he'll join his brothers after next year.)
 
The Left/Right side thing is a major factor, but I think an even bigger issue is his skating. The Rangers are just so much more of a skating/speed team under Vigneault, and Del Zotto's so so foot speed - which was noticeable but tolerable in the Torts system - is just constantly exposed now. The reason Why McDonagh and Moore (who I think has been generally good and did not think deserved his benching) have taken a step forward this year is because their wheels allow them to get back and redeem a bad pinch. When Del Zotto makes a bad read and steps up at the wrong time, he's just done and out of the play. DZ is certainly a better defensemen on the left side, but I prefer all of McD/Staal/Moore to him in this system.
 
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Rangers would be stupid not to at least entertain offers about Marc Staal. This isn't McD we're talking about here.
 
RussianRangersFan said:
Rangers would be stupid not to at least entertain offers about Marc Staal. This isn't McD we're talking about here.
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Well they should entertain offers for McD too, no player is untouchable for the right offer.

Still, I think his skating makes DZ the worst fit for this system. I don't like the idea of trading a guy at his lowest value, but I also like the three guys ahead of him a lot more if the Rangers are going to play with a hyper aggressive defense corps.
 
xander said:
Well they should entertain offers for McD too, no player is untouchable for the right offer.

Still, I think his skating makes DZ the worst fit for this system. I don't like the idea of trading a guy at his lowest value, but I also like the three guys ahead of him a lot more if the Rangers are going to play with a hyper aggressive defense corps.
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If they are gonna play aggressive, wouldnt Staal be the one to go? And Girardi? I see Staal as a #1 shutdown guy with Girardi behind him.
 
RangersHank said:
If they are gonna play aggressive, wouldnt Staal be the one to go? And Girardi? I see Staal as a #1 shutdown guy with Girardi behind him.
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Staal's a much better skater than DZ, and he has better hockey sense. If you want your d-men to jump into the play a lot, then you need them to: A. know when to jump. B. have the wheels to recover if the pinch goes bad. Of the left handed dmen, DZ is the weekest in both these respect.
 
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xander said:
Staal's a much better skater than DZ, and he has better hockey sense. If you want your d-men to jump into the play a lot, then you need them to: A. know when to jump. B. have the wheels to recover if the pinch goes bad. Of the left handed dmen, DZ is the weekest in both these respect.
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Del Zotto has the best stretch pass on the team and is very good at joining the rush. I saw him rush up ice at least 3 times today, more than any other defensemen except maybe McDonagh.

Both are huge assets to a team with a system reliant on speed.
 
xander said:
Staal's a much better skater than DZ, and he has better hockey sense. If you want your d-men to jump into the play a lot, then you need them to: A. know when to jump. B. have the wheels to recover if the pinch goes bad. Of the left handed dmen, DZ is the weekest in both these respect.
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I think DZ is more of an offensive player than Staal.
 
Good to see DZ play on the left side today, it was definitely one of his better games this season.

Unfortunately I feel that DZ will be moved back to RD once Moore returns to the lineup, and they may be playing DZ on the left side now only to showcase him. Sucks because he really isn't the same player on the right side.
 
For me, the bottom line is simple

What salary is the team willing/able to pay their 3rd pairing right handed d?

DZ's compensation needs to be decided soon. How much he will be offered is dependent on where he fits in the defensive scheme. If the mgt believes others will pay more and they can't slot him higher then they might as well trade him by the deadline.

I believe the Rangers can't afford to sign him to be their 3rd pairing D.
 
Staal should , in theory, bring back a brinks truck worth of players back....defenseman like him are worth their weight in gold.
 
Tackla said:
He's too dumb and has little drive. Maybe a last line defenseman in the NHL. Nothing stud about him.
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you couldn't be more wrong, every player has a slump no matter how long it last he would only be moved because he is the odd man out he has a ton more to prove and already has had a 40+ season you can't deny talent. he just needs a kick in the pants to get moving. they would fade him because he would bring back way more then john moore ever could. thats why he's on the block...
 
this thread is getting out of hand why knock a defenseman because he isn't scoring.. really guys neither is stralman or danny g and no one thinks twice but because he's had a 40+ point season and isn't being stellar right now doesn't mean you move him for a top 6 forward which you wouldn't even get
 
RangersHank said:
I think DZ is more of an offensive player than Staal.
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He's more skilled with his stick than Staal is, but he doesn't read his jumps as well as Staal does, and he doesn't recover as well when they go poorly (which comes back to his skating).

If you're going to tell your defensemen to always be looking to jump into the play, Then I would prefer to have Staal's skill set.

None of this is an inditement of Del Zotto - I wish he was a RD - but he clearly can't play that side, and I like the three guys ahead of him a lot more in Vigneault's system.
 
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SKjEi o2 said:
Del Zotto has the best stretch pass on the team and is very good at joining the rush. I saw him rush up ice at least 3 times today, more than any other defensemen except maybe McDonagh.

Both are huge assets to a team with a system reliant on speed.
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They are, except that they aren't if you can't put them both on the ice. Del Zotto isn't too slow to play in this system, but he is too slow to play in this system over the three guys ahead of him. It wouldn't be a problem if he could play the right side, but I don't think he can.
 
Have they tried DZ on the left and Moore on the right? I haven't heard anything about Moore being on the right
 
theFiGS said:
Have they tried DZ on the left and Moore on the right? I haven't heard anything about Moore being on the right
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I think AV has to try this setup before trading anyone. We could use DZ playing comfortably on the left side, and JMoore has played RD and has the wheels to get back.

Honestly, from every interview I've ever seen of this guy, it seems like MDZ has a really good head on his shoulders and is well liked in the locker room. We're not chasing him out of town. If Glen can get the legit young Top-6 or RHD we're looking for, then pull the trigger, but if not I'd keep him for now at 3-LD.

Also, Falk has been pretty decent given his expectations, lack of playing time, and his size/toughness. I'm glad we have him in case of injuries, but think DZ - Moore can be a good pairing.
 
NYRFAN88 said:
Would Carolina deal Faulk for Staal? Is Faulk a right defenseman?
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Faulk is RHD and the ideal player coming back from Carolina in a Staal trade. Poor man's Doughty, or smaller framed and slightly less fleet of foot McDonaugh.

Physically he isn't that tall, but built like a fire hydrant, think TJ Oshie or Tie Domi. Faulk is 6'0 215, and a very good skater, just a notch below Doughty, McD, Karlsson in terms of straightaway speed, but the kid is smart. High, high hockey IQ.

Shows offensive potential, but prorated it's been in the 30-40 range so far at the NHL level. His value is on par with DZ or so. Little less proven, hasn't played on a winning team yet and he's been on the Canes top pair for a while. Interesting note, he's played quite a few games on big ice and absolutely dominated, less so on smaller ice but he is a guy that might make the US Olympic roster.
 
Yeah, no. Faulk has a lot more value than DZ. His play is comparable to Staal right now. So why would Carolina trade Faulk for an older version of himself?
 
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