Del Zotto's Sophomore Struggles Partially Due to Rangers Mismanagement

When the Rangers drafted Michael Del Zotto in the summer of 2008, they envisioned the first round pick quarterbacking their power play for the next decade, giving them an offensive talent similar to Brian Leetch. What they didn’t expect was for the defenseman’s young career to be in danger before it even gets truly started.

Del Zotto’s rookie campaign gave Rangers’ fans something to hope for. As the youngest defenseman ever (19) to start for the Rangers on Opening Night, Del Zotto scored 12 points in his first 14 games, coming out of nowhere to impress all onlookers. His poise and confidence on the power play gave coach Tortorella a dangerous weapon from the backline.

However, the brash rookie played in 80 of 82 games in his first season. That’s not the ideal situation for a young defenseman, which typically take longer to develop than forwards.

Ideally, Tortorella wanted Del Zotto in juniors to develop his game last season, but due to the lack of options and how well he played in the preseason, Del Zotto played his way on to the team.

In his second year on Broadway, Del Zotto hasn’t been able to match his production or his confidence from a season ago. He’s making the same mistakes consistently - a classic mistake for inexperienced players.

His signature “home run” pass out of his own end is not clicking like it was last season. His shot routinely misses the net. His lack of physical play is hampering his defensive positioning. His giveaways have cost the Rangers points, some in late-game situations.

The mismanagement, however, has come from the coaching staff. Despite turning his team into a hard-working, tenacious fore-checking unit this season, Tortorella has sent mixed messages to what Del Zotto’s role is on the team and what he needs to do to continue to develop.

When the Rangers initially sent down Del Zotto to Connecticut Jan. 3rd, it was to work on those exact things. He was only recalled due to an injury to Dan Girardi and not because Tortorella liked where his game had progressed. When Girardi returned from injury, Del Zotto surprisingly wasn’t sent back down and the problems began to escalate.

Del Zotto’s 2^nd stint on the team has shown his confidence regress even further to the point where the coaching staff is hesitant to play him in all situations.

After a turnover that led to a penalty down in Atlanta last Friday, Del Zotto was seen on the bench being scolded by Tortorella and the look on Del Zotto’s face said it all; crippling fear of making a mistake and the consequences of them.

With other defenseman like Steve Eminger and Matt Gilroy not playing any better and the team without any veteran options, the Rangers have hamstrung themselves; they have no alternative but to play Del Zotto.

The best course of action for the Rangers is to find a veteran defenseman between now and the trade deadline (Feb 28^th). Players like Bryan McCabe Chris Phillips and Tomas Kaberle will command too much in a trade. Cheap, low-key defensemen like Jim Vandermeer (EDM), Hal Gill (MTL), or Steve Staois (CGY) should be brought in so Del Zotto can be sent down to Connecticut. There, he’ll be able to play 25-26 minutes a night and play in all situations to hopefully restore the confidence back in his game.

Whatever the decision the Rangers make on Del Zotto needs to be made quickly and must be carried out - it’s only for his benefit. If Del Zotto isn’t straightened out soon, he could very well turn into another Rangers 1^st-round bust.  

Sather Willing to Listen to Offers for Gaborik, But Should He Pull the Trigger?

“The Rangers have traded RW Marian Gaborik to...” What would the reaction be by Rangers fans on Feb. 28^th (Trade Deadline) to see a sentence start out like that? Some might be overjoyed considering how far Gaborik’s star has fallen this year. I’ll tell you what it should be: outrage and sheer panic.

Gaborik has not come close at all to matching his sensational output from a year ago, when he would step foot on the ice and immediately become a threat offensively. To date, the 28-year-old Slovakian only has 16 goals and 18 assists in 42 games - paltry numbers for a player of that caliber. Although, what’s troublesome about those numbers is that 10 of his goals have come in 3 games, including a 4-goal frenzy against the Toronto Maple Leafs a few weeks back. Gaborik also had an assist in each of those 3 games. An optimistic Rangers fan might be happy that Gaborik has 3 hat tricks this season. However, a realistic Rangers fan removes those games from his line and discovers Gaborik has collected a meager 6 goals and 15 assists in 39 games.

Despite the drop in production and what looks to be malaise on the ice occasionally from the gifted sniper, it doesn’t mean pull the panic button and close the book on him in only his 2^nd year on Broadway. New York is an extremely tough city to perform in. The passionate fans and relentless media coverage can be overwhelming. Yet, Gaborik proved last year he could play here. On the other hand, GM Glen Sather wouldn’t be doing his job if wasn’t listening to offers for his players. But what is “listening” mean anyways in terms of being a GM? 

New Jersey could call up and say “We’ll give you Rod Pelley and a 7-th round draft pick for Marian Gaborik. Whaddya say?” Obviously, Sather will listen for roughly 15 seconds before promptly hanging up the phone and erasing Lou Lamariello’s from his contacts forever. But what if the GM of the L.A. Kings, a young team with talent, struggling offensively and looking to make a huge push to the playoffs, offers an NHL ready player, or a highly touted prospect along with draft picks for Gaborik’s services? Sounds tempting, it frees up cap space and makes the team younger for the future. Sather would have due diligence to at least “listen” to the offer. One of his objectives is to see how he can improve the product he puts out on the ice as well.

Would he do a deal like that, with his own team mired in the same struggles and on the playoff bubble? Not a chance. If they were in 10 points out of the playoffs, going nowhere, and having no legitimate chance then Sather would be inclined to entertain a deal like that further. It would signal the Rangers are looking towards next season and beyond.

But the Rangers are still in the thick of things with less than 30 games to go. Which means Marian Gaborik is going nowhere. He is the lone game-changing talent on the team. To trade him away would be playoff suicide for the Rangers. It would prompt unmerciful hatred towards the already disliked Glen Sather. 

Fans must be patient with Marian Gaborik. At some point, with the level of talent he possesses, he will turn things around. I hate to sound cliché but it’s warranted here: Ranger fans won’t know what they have in Gaborik until he’s gone. 

Rangers Passing on Souray Shows Commitment to Kids.

These aren’t the Rangers of the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

If they were, fans might see a line up full of over-the-hill, aging stars still trying to relive their glory days. Players still trying to hang on and collecting a rather generous paycheck. Such was the case for what seemed an eternity for the Rangers. Take a look at the 02-03’ team for example, a lineup that included Eric Lindros, Pavel Bure, Mark Messier, Vladimir Malakhov, Darius Kasparaitis and would end up acquiring Alexei Kovalev for a 2nd stint. A virtual all-star game line up, which still had Ranger greats Mike Richter and Brain Leetch on it. It was a team that went nowhere for 7 straight seasons. However, as the adage goes, you can’t live in the past.

After watching Souray play, the Rangers decided to pass. Maybe they feel his $5.4 million dollar cap hit (if acquired on re-entry waivers, Rangers would be on the hook for $2.7) wasn’t worth it for the next season and a half for the 34-year-old. Maybe Ranger brass feels Souray has Wade Redden syndrome and didn’t want to make the same mistake twice. Whatever the case, passing on Souray is the best move for the Rangers at this point.

If this were the Rangers of old, Souray would have been here in half a heartbeat. And maybe he would help the Rangers power play and help turn things around. But, that’s a short-term, shortsighted viewpoint. In the new cap world of the NHL, Souray’s cap hit would be too detrimental considering the Rangers are too close to the cap and have numerous contracts expiring at season’s end. The Rangers aren’t willing to sacrifice potential long-term growth for short-term success. Thankfully to Rangers’ fans, Souray doesn’t fit in to their plans.

Having a defender quarterback a team’s power play is essential to making your offensive a threat. The Rangers believe they have that type of player in 20-year-old Michael Del Zotto. He isn’t there yet and his struggles with confidence and overall play this season show that. Not investing more time in acquiring Souray is an indicator that the Rangers believe Del Zotto is the future of their blueline.

The trade deadline is on February 28th. The Rangers boast one of the youngest defensive corps in the NHL. Since they lack a veteran with experience on the back end, a defenseman could still be added for the playoff run. However, it won’t come at the expense of the youth of the Rangers. If it does, New York will simply just have to pass on it.

Prospal's Return Key for Rangers Playoff Push

Amongst all the injury woes during the Rangers’ resilient season thus far, a silver lining will occur tonight on the 54th game of the season; Vinny Prospal makes his season debut at MSG against the New Jersey Devils tonight after being out year recovering from knee surgery. It couldn’t come any sooner for the Rangers, who have struggled offensively all season long.

The 35-year-old center (soon to be 36) will have Marian Gaborik, his partner in production last year, riding shotgun once again. After being put together at the beginning of last season by coach Tortorella, Prospal and Gaborik sparked instant chemistry, which propelled Gaborik to a 42-goal, 86-point campaign while Prospal scored 58 points of his own.

The same has not happened this season. With Prospal out, Gaborik has been searching for consistency all year, seeing time with Artem Anisimov, Erik Christensen, Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan, unable to find that missing piece to his offensive game. You can attribute the inconsistency to Gaborik being out nearly a month nursing a shoulder separation; losing that much time can really throw your timing and offensive flow. Although Gaborik has had 3 hat tricks this season, he’s been regrettably invisible in other games.

No one can quite put their finger on why Prospal and Gaborik work so well together. It could be Prospal’s playmaking ability, knowing where Gaborik likes to be in the offensive zone. Maybe it’s Prospal’s infectious enthusiasm and post-goal celebrations, the best in the NHL in my opinion. Maybe it’s nothing at all, the mentality of just going out there and playing hockey.

Prospal's return to the lineup could also help an anemic power play that sits 23rd in the NHL at 16%. Last year, the Rangers were able to convert 18.3% of their chances, good for 13th best in the NHL. It's not just Prospal's absence that the Rangers PP is not working this year. Other than Gaborik's sup-par season, Michael Del Zotto, rookie sensation last year, has gone through the classic "sophomore slump," losing his spot on the PP and being demoted to the Connecticut Whale. Having your special teams perform well will help win in close games. Remarkably, the Blueshirts have survived so far without their PP converting chances, but that can only last for so long.

Prospal’s return with 29 games to go is nearly equivalent to acquiring a player at the trade deadline. The Rangers sit 7th in the East, 6 points away from being out of the playoff picture, meaning every possible point becomes crucial. Gaborik has the task now of finding a way to rekindle the same offensive prowess he had last year flanking Prospal. He must do so; the Rangers playoff hopes depend on it.

Brandon Prust Defining What It Means To Be A Ranger

Immediately you’re thinking, Brandon Prust? What about Brandon Dubinsky, the homegrown talent showing grit, guile, and leadership in his breakout season? Or Ryan Callahan, the person most Ranger fans gravitate to as the “identity of the team” and want to see as Rangers Captain (whenever Chris Drury decides to hang up the skates.) Or Marc Staal, or his partner Dan Girardi, the Rangers standout shutdown pair on defense called upon to stymie the opponents’ best offensive talents on a nightly basis? All viable candidates and all whom are part of this young, talented core for the Rangers. However, it’s a newcomer that’s quickly changed the hearts and minds of his coaches and his teammates.

A 3rd-round draft pick for the Calgary Flames in 2004, Prust came into the NHL with a knack for toughness. Not noted as a goal scorer or someone who will intimidate you offensively, Prust used his hands for other things; fighting. Despite only standing 5′ 11” and 195 pounds, Prust wears his emotions on his game jersey sleeves and fights like a heavyweight, sticking up for his teammates at any cost. An attribute NHL teams desire for the makeup of their team. And, in February of the 2009-10 season, a team inquired for his services.

The New York Rangers, in the midst of battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, made a call to Calgary, a team in a similar position at the time and of changing landscape after trading away their young star captain Dion Phaneuf, for a trade. New York would send wingers Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins to Calgary for center Olli Jokinen, hoping a change of scenery would spark some offensive wizardry from the enigmatic Finn and Brandon Prust. Most in the media and amongst Ranger fans concentrated on how New York got rid of 2 players with less than reasonable contracts or how well Olli Jokinen would play on Broadway, and not on what type of player the Blueshirts acquired in Prust. It wouldn’t be long for everyone to find out just exactly who that was.

Upon his arrival, Prust made an immediate impact with the team. His toughness, willingness to give his body up to block shots, and heart meshed very well with John Tortorella’s aggressive, relentless team. Prust skated on a line with Artem Anisimov and Jody Shelley, another tough guy the Rangers acquired during the season, and sparked the Rangers playoff push at the end of the season with their consistent energetic shifts. Unfortunately, the Rangers would come up short, losing in a shootout on the final day of the regular season to the hated Philadelphia Flyers.

Fast-forward to the present, and the Rangers sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference with 59 points, once again battling for a playoff spot. This season, the Blueshirts have exceeded expectations by playing remarkably well defensively. They are amongst the league leaders in hits, blocked shots, goals against, and shorthanded goals. They have stuck up for each other much more than in seasons past, not allowing opponents to push them around. Prust’s warrior-like mentality has to be credited as one of the reasons for the Rangers turnaround this season. His 3 shorthanded goals help a little as well.

However, unlike last year, Prust’s value to his team has not gone unnoticed. Earlier in the year, coach Tortorella said he felt Prust was “part of the core of this team.” One of the highest honors a coach can give one of his players; it shows the trust he has in his players. Tortorella also shows his faith in Prust by sending him out nearly 14 minutes a game and for a regular shift on the penalty kill, a spot on reserved for your best defensive forwards. Teammate Brian Boyle, who has also gone through a Renaissance-type season this year, emerging as one of the leaders of the Rangers and has formed a formidable tandem with Prust, said, “he’s a warrior and it’s an honor to play with him.”

So while players like Dubinsky, Callahan, Girardi and Staal receive most of the accolades for their contributions to the “core” of the team, you have to add Brandon Prust to the mix as well. Without him, New York would be without a player who has earned the right to call himself a “Ranger.”

Story #3 Holiday Shopping from a male Kean University student perspective

Phil makes his own Kessel Run against Blueshirts

Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the New York Rangers by a score of 4-3 in Overtime.

Quick Hits:

• Tough game for the Rangers, having a rough 2nd period but found a way to tie it up in the 3rd and steal a point from Toronto.
• Good for Brian Boyle to emerge as the hero tonight, scoring 2 clutch 3rd period goals. It was his 2nd career 2-goal game. 
• Don't be surprised if Sean Avery gets some disiciplinary action for his nasty slash on Mike Komisarek's ankle...after that penalty was killed off Avery seemed to come alive.
• Both Marian Gaborik & Chris Drury left the 2nd period with injuries. Darren Dreger of TSN tweeted that Drury broke his finger & Gaborik injured his shoulder.
• Rangers missed the net on a good amount of scoring chances.
• Did anyone else enjoy Sam Rosen refer to Tyler Bozak as "Ryan" Bozak all night?
• Nice 3-point bounce back game for Phil Kessel, who was benched in Toronto's last game.
• Sort of disappointing Boogaard & Orr didn't drop the gloves tonight. 

Next Game: Monday 10/18 vs. Colorado

Final Thoughts:

The theme for this game is consistency. Playing with a consistent effort for a full 60 minute hockey game would have given the Rangers a better chance to win. Instead, New York completely fell apart defensively in the 2nd period and followed up with a furious 3rd period to tie the game.

Losing your captain and your #1 goal scorer can be devastating for any hockey club. However, the Rangers showed some moxie, rallying to tie the game with their 2 best players out with injuries. This team showed some resiliency during the preseason and they will need every bit of it depending on how long their important players are out for.

Henrik Lundqvist had his first show-stealing effort of the season, almost single-handedly stealing a point away from Toronto along with Brian Boyle's heroic 3rd period effort. Look for Lundqvist to do it more often this year: its the only way the Rangers will make the playoffs.