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New York Rangers‘ defenseman Michael Del Zotto seems to have developed a love/hate relationship with the Blueshirts faithful. Some fans believe he is still young, only age 23, and that he is still learning and has the potential to be a very good defenseman for years to come. Also some fans believe that Del Zotto, being more of an offensive defenseman, will thrive this upcoming 2013-2014 season under Rangers new head coach, Alain Vigneault, whose style of play has a way more up tempo offense when compared to Rangers former head coach, John Tortorella.
However, there are other fans who think Del Zotto’s awareness and defensive skills will continue to be the downfall in his overall game and because of this will never excel to his potential. Del Zotto’s poor decisions in his own zone, from giving the puck away to missing defensive assignments, have made some Rangers’ fans fed up with the young defensemen and believe he should get no more chances to prove himself and should be traded.
With the Rangers cap situation at the moment being $3,330,833, which is very little wiggle room to make any further moves, may be the biggest reason why the Rangers would shop Del Zotto.
Now are the Rangers actually shopping him?
I cannot answer that since I am not in the head of Rangers’ GM Glen Sather or in the Rangers front office, but I would think they are exploring some trade possibilities with Del Zotto but will not force a trade just to get rid of his contract.
Del Zotto’s contract only has a $2,550,000 cap hit so if the Rangers were to trade Del Zotto, he would be part of some package deal because his contract alone does not give the organization enough money to make some sort of splash, whether in free agency or a trade.
A part of me feels that Sather believes Del Zotto will improve his game under Vigneault’s offensive system, but at the same time, will not say completely that he is untradeable.
