Del Zotto has never been known to be a defensive defenseman so it is critical for him to produce offensively, which he has not even remotely done this past few seasons.
So far this season, through 17 games Del Zotto has recorded a total of four points, one goal and three assists. Not quite an offensive juggernaut to say the least. The offensive potential that Del Zotto has is only potential and has not been a reality for some time now.
The Rangers are a team that struggles a lot to score goals. I guess it had nothing to due with the offensive system after all.
Obviously the Rangers do not have the players, outside of Rick Nash, to score goals on a consistent basis. Since Del Zotto is not even close to being this guy, the Rangers need to make a deal in order to acquire one. Like I said before, supposedly there are five to six teams that want to take a chance on a Del Zotto, and obviously need defenseman, and if any of them are willing to give up a second line scoring forward for him, the Rangers should jump at that deal in a heartbeat since a forward who can put the puck in the net is greatly needed over Del Zotto at this point for the Rangers.
We Rangers' fans and the coaching staff know that Del Zotto would be somewhat tolerable if he did not turn the puck over so frequently in the defensive zone.
It is unbelievable on a game-to-game basis just how many times he turns the puck over and gives the opposition a prime scoring chance. Once again, I will make the comparison to Sanchez as he interception numbers increased as he regressed every year and the same can be said for Del Zotto and his defensive zone turnovers.
Del Zotto makes $2.55 million per season.
Do I have to continue to explain myself?
For a supposedly offensive defenseman to have four points through 17 games and turn the puck over on a regular basis in a salary-cap league, for him to make $2.55 million per year is just unacceptable. The Rangers must move Del Zotto for salary cap reasons among others.
The No. 1 reason why the Rangers should trade Del Zotto is that he is a defensive liability.
The name defense is in his position yet he ignores every aspect of it. I understand that he is more known for his offense but when you are struggling on the offensive side of your game, you have to up the intensity and effort on the defensive side, which Del Zotto has not been doing.
Besides turning the puck over, Del Zotto constantly screws up defensive assignments and just cannot cover virtually any power forward in this league. Del Zotto criticized Vigneault for limiting his minutes but when you can't do anything right defensively, how is he supposed to keep sending you back out there.
For a team that struggles to score goals, defense is important and the last thing you want is to have one of your defenseman be a defensive liability out there, which is exactly what Del Zotto is at this point.
Related Links:
New York Rangers: Potential Trade Targets for Michael Del Zotto
New York Rangers Coach Alain Vigneault Takes Shot at Michael Del Zotto
New York Rangers Should Not Wait Longer For Henrik Lundqvist Extension
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