the rangers aren't even going to enterain the idea of trading away a defensmen until Staal and Sauer are 100% for a considerable amount of time, and Mcilrath and Erixon are fully ready to go in the NHL
this season is the very definition of why defensive depth is important
what kind of shape would we be in if people got their wish last season and del zotto was sent packing and emminger not resigned?
the rangers aren't even going to enterain the idea of trading away a defensmen until Staal and Sauer are 100% for a considerable amount of time, and Mcilrath and Erixon are fully ready to go in the NHL
this season is the very definition of why defensive depth is important
what kind of shape would we be in if people got their wish last season and del zotto was sent packing and emminger not resigned?
Great post and I couldn't agree more. I have always been in the pro- Steve Eminger camp. I think the guy is very under-rated and does a great job as a #5 defenseman and would truthfully hope he is re-signed after this season for a few more years.
trade del zotto and or mcd??? just hysterical stuff......these threads that are turned in to trade threads are comic relief.are we watching the same team. i would bet good hard earned money those two are going nowhere for a very long time. del zotto not a physical defensman? last 20 games this kid has been giving it as good as hes taken it and better. i have no problem with this kids physicality whatsoever.another off season in the weight room for him guys will be duckin him.LGR
He has been.... He's been taking pucks away with timely poke checks, and blocking pass attempts down low that lead to turnovers for the other team... He's also been solid at pinning his man against the boards down low, and allowing his defensive partner or the center to swoop in and take the puck... That is just as effective as stripping the puck himself because he's taking a forward out of the picture by pinning that player against the boards, and allowing the Rangers to recover the puck... Del Zotto has made a lot of very subtle yet effective plays this season that might not jump out at the regular fan unless they were really looking for it and honing in on him on the ice...
I don't think you can expect him to ever play the game defensively like Staal & Sauer can... But those guys will also never move the puck or play the game offensively the way MDZ can... It's a give and take and right now MDZ is playing like an all around defenseman that contributes on both ends of the rink, and that makes him a very valuable member of this team...
The thing is, Staal does not throw hits like that with any consistency... Those types of hits from him are few and far between. None of our defensemen hit like that with any regularity... Their hitting is more functional than devastating... Take the man out of the play, separate him from the puck, make the play....
It's really not considered a takeaway when you pokecheck a puck free along the boards, leaving it for your partner to recover it. And if you watch the games closely, you'll see more than half the time another opponent recovers the puck and not us.
Also pinning an opponent along the boards after the puck is free,... is a form of interference. He needs to be careful there.
And while I agree, we did not draft him for his defensive prowess, he has yet to look like a genuine 1st round pick up the ice either. It's important for a point man to get the pucks on net,.. which he fails miserably at.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NHRangerfan
Great points, there was a play in the game against the Debbies the other night where MDZ went into the corner to play the puck with Clarkson or Zubrus right on his heels, rather than playing the puck first and getting flattened he braced for the hit while protecting the puck with his body. By bracing himself he actually held his ground against the bigger man and then skated the puck out of the corner.
That was the one and only play where he stood out. Meanwhile Girardi and Mickey D made a dozen or so great defensive plays that night. More if you consider the subtle little plays that go unnoticed.
He has improved. He's not the defensive liability he has been in the past,... but still has a ways go,.. to merit a first round pick.
11 points in the last 13 games for Del Zotto--including the game winning goal tonight. I think he's got his offensive confidence back. He is now a +20. Check that. I think he's just playing lights out--offensively and defensively. Arguably if he can keep it going for the rest of the year--he's a Norris trophy candidate.
Packaging him for Ryan?--I don't know.-------Or McDonagh?--the guy is fantastic positionally--a great skater and his offense is a lot better this year. MDZ is 21. McDonagh is 22. How long does it usually take to develop a young defeneseman? At least at this point in time--they're practically untouchable.
His confidence is soaring right now, but I think that is going to get him in trouble here soon. I know I may be nitpicking here, but he has started to rove around taking himself out of position at times. I know he is an offensive defenseman, but he needs to keep himself in check at times.
His confidence is soaring right now, but I think that is going to get him in trouble here soon. I know I may be nitpicking here, but he has started to rove around taking himself out of position at times. I know he is an offensive defenseman, but he needs to keep himself in check at times.
Disagree. Honestly, I think he's been our best d-man over the past 5 or so games. -
Disagree. Honestly, I think he's been our best d-man over the past 5 or so games. -
I agree. He is on that edge right now where everything looks great. He has been the Rangers best overall defenseman for, I would say, 10+ games. But if you watch him closely, you can tell he is getting to that point where the cockiness may bite him a little bit. It's not a knock on him, he is 21. These things happen to young defensemen.
I agree. He is on that edge right now where everything looks great. He has been the Rangers best overall defenseman for, I would say, 10+ games. But if you watch him closely, you can tell he is getting to that point where the cockiness may bite him a little bit. It's not a knock on him, he is 21. These things happen to young defensemen.
while i may not agree with you about it being a result "cockiness" per say, you bring up a good point
he will inevitably have a bad game, probably a few in a row....every player in the league does. The key for Del Zotto is going to be how he rebounds after crapping the bed a few times.
Hopefully his confidence is rooted in his abilities, hard work, and perseverance rather than simply his recent success in the early part of the season
while i may not agree with you about it being a result "cockiness" per say, you bring up a good point
he will inevitably have a bad game, probably a few in a row....every player in the league does. The key for Del Zotto is going to be how he rebounds after crapping the bed a few times.
Hopefully his confidence is rooted in his abilities, hard work, and perseverance rather than simply his recent success in the early part of the season
When I say cockiness, I mean confidence. For an athlete it is the same thing. He is playing like he did when he first made the team 2 years ago. As he matures as a player he will stay more even keel, just a learning process.
And it happens to all young players, not just MDZ. It just so happens he is playing 22+ minutes a night so it is going to be a little more glaring.
I was of the firm belief that MDZ was rushed and we were hurting his development forcing him to play in the NHL. I would have liked to have seen him play in the AHL longer. However, something seems to have clicked with him. He is playing with a ton of confidence right now. Whatever Torts is doing with MDZ is working.
If MDZ keeps it up, he has a tool set that no one else on this team has. Trading him would probably be the biggest mistake since trading Zubov.
Honestly, if someone is going to go, I'd say it'd be Sauer. No way Staal, Girardi, or McD get traded at this point. Plus with the way he's playing, I can't foresee MDZ thriving as a third pair Dman.
just hysterical stuff......these threads that are turned in to trade threads are comic relief.are we watching the same team
. i would bet good hard earned money those two are going nowhere for a very long time. del zotto not a physical defensman? last 20 games this kid has been giving it as good as hes taken it and better. i have no problem with this kids physicality whatsoever.another off season in the weight room for him guys will be duckin him.LGR
