Michael Del Zotto
| Michael Del Zotto | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 24, 1990 Stouffville, ON, CAN |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) |
| Position | Defence |
| Shoots | Left |
| NHL team Former teams |
Nashville Predators New York Rangers |
| National team |  Canada |
| NHL Draft | 20th overall, 2008 New York Rangers |
| Playing career | 2009–present |
Michael Del Zotto (born June 24, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League.
Playing career
Early career
Del Zotto began his hockey career with the Stouffville Clippers A of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Minor Hockey Association (WSMHA). He then played for the Richmond Hill Stars and the Markham Waxers in the OMHA's Eastern AAA League (OMHA). His Waxers minor hockey club also featured future NHL'ers Steven Stamkos, Cody Hodgson and Cameron Gaunce. The group won eight consecutive OMHA titles from 1999-2006 and the OHL Cup in Minor Midget. Del Zotto was the 2nd overall selection by the Oshawa Generals in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. [1]
Junior
During his first season with the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Del Zotto helped his home province of Ontario win the gold medal in the 2007 Canada Winter Games.[1]
In his second season with Oshawa, Del Zotto's 63 points ranked him third among defencemen in the OHL. He made his second OHL playoff appearance when the Oshawa Generals got to the third round in the 2008 OHL playoffs. Del Zotto was chosen for the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game.[1]
On January 8, 2009, Del Zotto was part of a trade that would send him, along with teammates John Tavares and Daryl Borden, to the London Knights for prospects Christian Thomas, Scott Valentine, Michael Zador and six draft picks.[2]
Professional
Del Zotto was selected 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[3] He signed a contract with the Rangers on May 26, 2009.[4]
On October 2, 2009, Del Zotto made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins. At age 19, he became the youngest defenceman in Rangers history to play on an opening night. Del Zotto scored his first NHL goal the next day, against Pascal Leclaire of the Ottawa Senators, in the Rangers' home opener. Del Zotto proved he was an asset to the team and, as a result, averaged 20–25 minutes per game.
Del Zotto was awarded the NHL's Rookie of The Month for October 2009 after posting 12 points in his first 14 professional games.[5] Placing second in scoring amongst all rookie defenseman with 37 points in 80 games, Del Zotto was named to the 2010 NHL All-Rookie Team.[6]
In his second professional season in 2010–11, Del Zotto struggled to reproduce his rookie season form consistently and was re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League on January 4, 2011. He was later recalled by the Rangers and finished with just 11 points in 47 games during his split year. During the 2011–12 season, Del Zotto rebounded in a highly successful year for the Rangers, to complete his second full season in the NHL, recording 10 goals with 31 assists in 77 games.
As a Restricted Free Agent during the 2012 NHL lockout, he signed a temporary contract with European club Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the Swiss National League A on October 31, 2012.[7] In 9 games for the Lakers, Del Zotto produced 2 goals and 7 points before returning to North America in anticipation for the shortened 2012–13 season. Upon a resolution to the NHL lockout, Del Zotto was re-signed to a two-year contract with the Rangers on the opening day of training camp on January 13, 2013.[8]
On January 22, 2014, Del Zotto was traded by the Rangers to the Nashville Predators for Kevin Klein.[9]
Personal life
For high school, he attended St. Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham, Ontario, then later on attended St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ontario. Del Zotto wears number 4 in homage to Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr.[1]
His father, Steven, was a football player at York University and was drafted as a wide receiver by the Toronto Argonauts in the 8th round (66th overall) of the 1986 CFL Draft.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Markham Waxers | OMHA | 73 | 30 | 90 | 120 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006−07 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 64 | 10 | 47 | 57 | 78 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 14 | ||
| 2007−08 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 64 | 16 | 47 | 63 | 82 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 38 | ||
| 2008−09 | Oshawa Generals | OHL | 34 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008−09 | London Knights | OHL | 28 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 30 | 14 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 18 | ||
| 2009−10 | New York Rangers | NHL | 80 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010−11 | New York Rangers | NHL | 47 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010−11 | Connecticut Whale | AHL | 11 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011−12 | New York Rangers | NHL | 77 | 10 | 31 | 41 | 36 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 12 | ||
| 2012−13 | Rapperswil-Jona Lakers | NLA | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012−13 | New York Rangers | NHL | 46 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2013−14 | New York Rangers | NHL | 42 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 292 | 26 | 95 | 121 | 116 | 32 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 20 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Canada | WC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Senior int'l totals | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Del Zotto, Michael – NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles". NHL.com. 2008. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ↑ "Del Zotto traded to London Knights". New York Rangers. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ↑ "Rangers thrilled to land Del Zotto at No. 20". New York Rangers. 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ↑ "Rangers sign 2008 first-round pick Del Zotto". New York Rangers. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ↑ "Rangers' Del Zotto top October rookie". NHL.com. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- ↑ "Rangers' Del Zotto selected to All-Rookie team". New York Rangers. 2010-05-01. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
- ↑ "NY Rangers' Michael Del Zotto signs with Rapperswil-Jona Lakers". New York Daily News. 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
- ↑ "Michael Del Zotto re-signs with NY Rangers to two-year deal". New York Daily News. 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ↑ "Michael Del Zotto traded to Predators, Kevin Klein to Rangers". CBS Sports. 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
External links
- Michael Del Zotto's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
- Michael Del Zotto's player profile at TSN.ca
- Michael Del Zotto's player profile at NHL.com
| Preceded by Alexei Cherepanov |
New York Rangers first round draft pick 2008 |
Succeeded by Chris Kreider |