The Rangers Tribune

Michael Del Zotto's Fate Lies in His Hands

[Ed. Note: Taking a break from the daily morning Ranger Reads this morning since, let's face it, there aren't many articles written on the last Saturday of July. So, instead, I decided to share with you a piece I wrote on defenseman Michael Del Zotto. Enjoy...]

21-year-old defenseman Michael Del Zotto was a victim of the good ‘ol sophomore curse in 2010-11, seeing a 19-point drop from his rookie year. Everything that went right for Michael in his freshman season with the Rangers suddenly became a problem in his sophomore season. Why? I don’t think you can put a finger on one major cause, but it was clear that after a while of frustration and then being sent down to the AHL really got to the kid’s head. He lost confidence, he lost motivation, and now he finds himself in a do-or-die situation this September in training camp.

Del Zotto was highly touted from the day he was selected 20^th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Blueshirts. He exceled in the OHL as a member of the Oshawa Generals and later the London Knights, and then really opened eyes when he had an outstanding performance in the 2009 Traverse City Prospects Tournament. After that tourney, the Rangers knew Del Zotto was going to be joining the pro squad later that month.

If you recall, Del Zotto had a shaky start at the NHL level. Nerves got the best of him, but at the time he was just 19 so that was sort of expected. After scoring his first NHL goal against the Ottawa Senators in the home opener that season, things began started to come along nicely for DZ and we saw the skill the Rangers did when they drafted him back in ’08.

Del Zotto’s ability to move the puck was what stood out most, as his outlet passes were 99-percent effective and always right on the tape. Del Zotto finished his rookie campaign with 28 assists, and a big part of that was the odd-man rushes he would spring by making those stellar passes out of the defensive zone. His main target was always Marian Gaborik, and that was also the season where every shot Gabby took seemed to go in. Those two connected often and became a lethal combination for the Rangers as the season went on.

Del Zotto got high marks after his first season and really had the fans’ hopes set high for 2010-11. Unfortunately, the crisp outlet passing and puck-moving just wasn’t there last season. More often than not, an outlet pass would result in a turnover that had Del Zotto caught out of position. And as we know, if you’re a defenseman and your lack of positioning costs the team a goal, head coach John Tortorella will not restrain from pointing it out in the media.

Finally, at the end of February, the Rangers did to Michael exactly what they did to Matt Gilroy when he struggled the prior year, and assigned him to the AHL to play with the Connecticut Whale.  That didn’t last very long, though, as Del Zotto ended up breaking his hand on March 3 and was out long-term.

Fast-forwarding to the present, there are four locks on defense for the Rangers going into camp; Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Mike Sauer. The 5^th, 6^th and 7^th spots are all up for grabs and will most likely be contended for by Del Zotto, Tim Erixon, Steve Eminger, Pavel Valentenko and Dylan McIlrath.

Aside from Eminger, all of the players listed are young and hungry, ready to do all they possibly can to be on the Rangers roster on opening night. Del Zotto certainly has his competition lined up for him this training camp, but something tells me that this kid will come determined and ready to play.

See, when Del Zotto was first assigned to the AHL, he wouldn’t necessarily accept the blame. He took some responsibility, but it was evident he felt the coaching staff and the organization had made a mistake by sending him down.

Now, in the offseason, he’s realized he has no choice but to improve if he wants to make the team this upcoming year, and he knows his mentality may have gotten in the way of his game last season. His thought process has changed, and you can see it in the quotes and even his tweets.

When Del Zotto has his confidence, he is something to behold. He is an above average hockey player with breathtaking vision. He is the real deal at the top of his game and I think a lot of fans have lost confidence in him after last season. I know I am one fan that hasn’t, and who still believes MDZ will be back and better than ever this September.

He controls his own fate from this point forward, and he knows that. It bothered Del Zotto that he disappointed last season and I don’t think he will allow that to happen again. 

Saturday Ranger Reads

Here is your daily collection of morning Ranger links:

• There is no need for the Rangers to go out and acquire another top-notch winger. Again, this is just another one of those things that turned from fan desire to major rumor thanks to Bleacher Report and HF Boards. [Blueshirt Banter]

• GM Glen Sather deserves a hand for his outstanding performance this summer. Richards, Rupp, re-signing Boyle, Anisimov, Callahan and Dubinsky. Everything has gone as planned for Slats this offseason. [Puck Daddy]

• Marty Biron's video journal is back; this time he assesses the Rangers' offseason additions and re-signings, and also talks about his road to recovery and the training he's been doing for the upcoming season. [Blueshirts United]

• The Rangers aiding J.T. Miller in his decision to join the Plymouth Whalers instead of playing for UND next season is just another example of how the CHL is quickly becoming the league of choice over the NCAA. [Yahoo Sports]

• Brad Richards hosted a charity poker tournament this past week... [The Guardian]

• Another article explaining why Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers are kings of the shootout... [Pro Hockey Talk]

• Here's MSG Network's promo for Brad Richards... [YouTube]

• And lastly, the Devils avoided arbitration with star winger Zach Parise yesterday when they signed him for one year at $6 million. [Bob McKenzie]

J.T. Miller Signs with Plymouth of OHL; On the Right Track

Yesterday we reported that the New York Rangers had signed 2011 first-round pick J.T. Miller to a 3-year entry-level contract. Although he is eligible to play in the AHL since he was drafted out of high school, the Rangers feel it is best that Miller gets his experience in the Ontario Junior Hockey League first. 

That was made official today when Miller officially signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL, per Chris Johnston. To give you an idea of the talent the OHL produces, the Rangers' own Marc Staal, Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto and Brandon Prust all began their professional careers in that league. Prospect sniper Christian Thomas played in the OHL last season and will do so this season as well if he doesn't make the Rangers out of training camp. 

So obviously the Blueshirts have had a lot of previous success with sending their prospects to the OHL, so it makes sense that they would do the same with J.T. Miller. Miller was originally set to attend the University of North Dakota but then suddenly decided to switch his plans to play in Juniors earlier this month. I strongly believe that this was a move he was consistently encouraged to make by the Rangers organization. 

They know what's best for their future players, and they know where these young kids will get the best start. For Miller, age 18, Plymouth should give him the ideal foundation to his game that is needed to contend at the AHL and NHL levels. This is a decision I'm sure J.T. will not regret.

Friday Ranger Reads

Here is your daily collection of morning Ranger links:

• Ryan Callahan said this summer has undoubtedly been one of the best of his life being that he got married and then re-signed for 3 more years with the Rangers. [Blueshirts United]

• First-round pick J.T. Miller is eligible for the AHL this season since he was drafted out of high school, but that won't happen. He is fully expected to play with Plymouth (OHL) next year. [Ranger Rants (Gross)]

• Madison Square Garden has set-up a "construction cam" in which you could see the the progress of the renovations from up high. Looks like they are getting the seats in the lower bowl installed now. [MSG]

• Is Erik Christensen's career as a New York Ranger over? [Blueshirt Banter]

• Rangers prospect Christian Thomas has been named to the Team Canada World Junior team. A great honor for the youngster. [Team Canada]

• Marc Staal made Puck Daddy's rankings of the league's top 25 defenseman... [Puck Daddy]

• Henrik Lundqvist is among the NHL's top performers in the shootout with the most amount of wins as a goaltender. Surprised? I'm not. [NHL.com]

• Blueshirts GM Glen Sather has released a statement about the Islanders' situation and supporting the referendum vote on August 1. The Rangers' support of the Isles remaining in New York has been tremendous from the owner right on down throughout the organization. Very classy. [SNY Rangers]

• Speaking of those Isles, they had a pretty nice pick-up yesterday in Brian Rolston. He'll definitely put some goals in the net for them. [Devils Official Twitter]

Rangers Tribune Offseason Weekly Chat #5

Join The Rangers Tribune tonight at 8 p.m. for the fifth weekly chat of the 2011 offseason. Tonight we will be discussing the Callahan deal, next season's roster, the next captain and the Mats Zuccarello rumors. And remember, any questions you have, don't be afraid to ask!

Rangers Sign 1st-Round Pick J.T. Miller

The Rangers have announced that they have signed this year's first-round draft pick J.T. Miller to an entry-level contract. Miller was selected 15th overall by the Blueshirts and earlier this month decided that he would be joining the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL for next season instead of playing with the University of North Dakota in the NCAA. 

Miller was someone director of player personnel Gordie Clark said the Rangers targeted for a while, so while the pick was a bit of a surprise, on second look he will fit in to the blueprint of this hockey club quite well in the future. The fact that the Rangers convinced Miller to play in the OHL and have now signed him to an entry-level deal shows that they are looking to move him along the development process as quickly as possible. 

Miller's deal will not kick in until he plays in the AHL with the Connecticut Whale or, of course, the Rangers in the NHL. Neither of those will happen this year, so the contract will be sitting idle while he plays in the OHL. 

The deal is for 3 years. Money terms have not been disclosed.

Thursday Ranger Reads - Ryan Callahan Edition

Here is your daily collection of morning Ranger links:

• After being re-signed by the Rangers Wednesday afternoon, forward Ryan Callahan confirmed that he is now 100-percent healthy and began skating two weeks ago. [Andrew Gross]

• With Callahan now in the fold, the Rangers' blueprint for next season is pretty much set... [Blueshirts United]

• The Rangers have to like their chances at contending for a cup in the next few years with the core group of youngsters now locked up and a goaltender in his prime. [Daily News (Spector)]

• Now that Cally has been re-signed for $4.3 million per year, the Rangers are left with $1.356 million in free cap space... [Jesse Spector]

• Callahan's agent and assistant GM Jeff Gorton worked right up until the time just before they had to leave New York for Toronto in order to head to arbitration to get this deal done... [NY Times]

• Callahan wanted a longer-term contract, but ended up settling at a middle ground with the Rangers in order to avoid arbitration. [Ranger Rants (Gross)]

• The Rangers have NO intentions of buying out the final year of winger Wojtek Wolski's contract. If they wanted to, they would have to do so in the next 48 hours. [Arthur Staple]

Live Chat tonight right here at 8 p.m.! Lots to talk about, including all of these Mats Zuccarello rumors, so you won't want to miss it!

Rangers Re-Sign Ryan Callahan, Avoid Arbitration

The Rangers have announced that 26-year-old forward Ryan Callahan has re-signed with the team on a 3-year/$13 million contract and has avoided salary arbitration. That equates out to a $4.3 million annual cap hit, which is right in the neighborhood of what linemate Brandon Dubinsky got last week.

Callahan had his breakout season in 2010-11, recording 23 goals and 25 assists in 60 games played. Taking on a leadership role, Ryan has carried the team on his shoulders time and time again and that alone is worth the money he was given today.

Callahan is the epitome of New York Rangers hockey, which is why he is the best candidate to take over captaincy of the club in September. He is the heart and soul of the team and is absolutely loved by the fan base. Time to take a deep breath now that he is Ranger property for the next 3 years.

The picture-perfect offseason for GM Glen Sather continues.

Gaborik Could Contend for Rocket Richard Playing with Richards

Marian Gaborik was considered to have a disappointing season in 2010-2011, and by his standards, that was true. In that "disappointing" season, Gaborik managed to collect 22 goals and 48 points all while missing twenty games over the course of the year due to injury. By those terms, a bad season for Gaborik could be considered a great one for many others.  And seeing that rock bottom for Gabby is 22 goals, you could only imagine what his numbers will look like at the very top of his game, which is where the Rangers want Brad Richards to take him. 

Recently, Puck Daddy has been ranking the top players at each position in the NHL. Yesterday they ranked right wingers, and Gaborik happened to be sixth on that list overall. That's impressive considering he had a down year last season, and it goes to show how much natural skill the Slovakian speedster possesses and how well respected he is for that. 

There are no guarantees, but when you put two star players like Gaborik and Richards together on the same line, they are bound to find some sort of chemistry somewhere down the line. Gaborik has never before had a centerman to play with as skilled as Richards - even in Minnesota. Yet he's still been able to post goal totals in the 30s and 40s throughout his career, which means he achieved those numbers basically on his own. Now put him with a player that has skill with the puck just as he does and, well, the possibilities seem endless. 

Last year's Rocket Richard winner for most goals scored was Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks with 50 tallies in 82 games. In his very first season on Broadway, Gaborik notched 42 goals in 76 games playing alongside Vinny Prospal. I think it's a safe bet to say that if Gabby can reach 42 in 76 with Prospal, he can certainly reach 50 or more in a season playing with Brad Richards. For this reason, the Rangers' top goal scorer has a legitimate chance of contending for the Rocket Richard this season. 

Here's the thing with Gaborik: He is not a player who should be carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into offensive territory. Sure, he could do it as we saw him do in his first season with the Rangers, but team defenses eventually caught on and closed in on him quickly. This is why we often saw Gaborik trapped against the boards and eventually forced into a turnover last season. He is a goal scorer and a sniper, and those types of players need to receive the puck in the slot - not carry it there themselves. 

This is where Mr. Richards steps in. Brad has a prolific way about him when it comes to taking the puck up ice and weaving his way through the opposition along the way. He carries the puck much like Scott Gomez did, and while a lot of things didn't go so well for Gomer here in New York, puck movement was something he was very good at it. Unfortunately he didn't have anyone to pass to at the time once Jagr left.

Anyway, Richards is going to get Gaborik the puck in prime scoring areas on the ice, so Gaborik's job will simply be to get there and wait. With the speed Marian possesses, I cannot imagine that will be much of a problem at all. Oh, there's one other pretty important job for Gabby as well; stay healthy.

Again, there are no guarantees that these two will click, and even if they do it may not be right away. But if they can find some chemistry and move the puck like some of the other dynamic duos around the league, there's no doubt they could be bringing home some hardware during next year's NHL Awards. 

Wednesday Ranger Reads

Here is your daily collection of morning Ranger links:

• Still no progress between Ryan Callahan and the Rangers in their contract negotiations. Cally is scheduled to attend salary arbitration on Thursday if a deal is not struck before then. [Ranger Rants (Gross)]

• The Rangers re-signed AHL defenseman Stu Bickel yesterday... [SNY Rangers Blog]

• Recently signed defenseman Steve Eminger says he anticipates to compete for the best possible spot available in training camp... [Blueshirts United]

• A look inside the closet of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist... [Lundqvist Blog] 

• This year's training camp could be a make-or-break year for Dale Weise... [Rangers Official Website]

• Marty Biron's young daughter visited the TC yesterday while daddy was training for next season... [Biron's Twitter]

• They say that goaltenders win championships, and that a team is only as good as its goaltender, but then why do they tend to be paid less than forwards and defenseman? [USA Today]