Surprised so many people are expecting a full season out of him. He still as A TON to learn on the defensive side of the puck; some additional time in Hartford would serve him well.
I say he plays 40-50 games, 25 points or so, and comes on stronger toward the end of the season
Surprised so many people are expecting a full season out of him. He still as A TON to learn on the defensive side of the puck; some additional time in Hartford would serve him well.
I say he plays 40-50 games, 25 points or so, and comes on stronger toward the end of the season
Agreed. Del Zotto got hurt in the second game he played after he was sent back to Hartford and hasn't been in a game situation since. As such, I would be surprised if he started season with the Rangers--especially if Erixon is as advised and makes the team. I'm hopeful that he will be called up sometime during the season and be able to stick--getting better as he plays more.
3 things that will keep him from having much success this season.
1. his defensive shortcomings. mdz is a horror show in his own zone. unless that improves, hell be in the torts chateau bow wow.
2. br19. with brad here, and working as the pp qb, its one less spot for mdz and since mdz is primarily a special teams, pp specialist, his ice time will be lessened. and with less pp time, he has less chance to make a positive impact and unfortunately, his 5 on 5 play isnt his strong suit.
3. erixon. bad news for mike. this dude is the real deal and hes definitely nhl ready now. hes big, hes fast, hes smart, hes efficient, physical and has a very strong shot. oh, and he can play the pp point. add to that his uncanny ability to make the right play at the right time all the time and its another reason to not play mike.
when you look at exactly what hes up against this season at the start, you start to realize that time in hartford may well be the best thing for this young man.
A successful season to me isn't reliant on his point totals. I would say 30 points while being solid in his own end would be a bigger success than 45 points, if he is giving up more chances than creating.
That being said, I am hoping for a 30 point season, with a bigger emphasis on making the right play as opposed to the potentially game changing play.
A successful season to me isn't reliant on his point totals. I would say 30 points while being solid in his own end would be a bigger success than 45 points, if he is giving up more chances than creating.
That being said, I am hoping for a 30 point season, with a bigger emphasis on making the right play as opposed to the potentially game changing play.
I totally agree with you, but I have him in my keeper pool that is based strictly on point totals. That's why asked how many points people think he will put up. Just curious to see what people think.
3 things that will keep him from having much success this season.
1. his defensive shortcomings. mdz is a horror show in his own zone. unless that improves, hell be in the torts chateau bow wow.
2. br19. with brad here, and working as the pp qb, its one less spot for mdz and since mdz is primarily a special teams, pp specialist, his ice time will be lessened. and with less pp time, he has less chance to make a positive impact and unfortunately, his 5 on 5 play isnt his strong suit.
3. erixon. bad news for mike. this dude is the real deal and hes definitely nhl ready now. hes big, hes fast, hes smart, hes efficient, physical and has a very strong shot. oh, and he can play the pp point. add to that his uncanny ability to make the right play at the right time all the time and its another reason to not play mike.
when you look at exactly what hes up against this season at the start, you start to realize that time in hartford may well be the best thing for this young man.
Del Zotto's 41 points this year is the most from a Rangers defensemen since Tom Poti's 48 in 2002-03. Pretty good, even missing 5 games. Although it doesn't say much for our history of d-men since the lockout.
Del Zotto's 41 points this year is the most from a Rangers defensemen since Tom Poti's 48 in 2002-03. Pretty good, even missing 5 games. Although it doesn't say much for our history of d-men since the lockout.
Tom Poti was almost a 50 point D-man for us? I know he was soft as tissue paper but he wasn't THAT bad.
P.S. **** you Poti you ****ing nerd! Remember that?
Tom Poti was almost a 50 point D-man for us? I know he was soft as tissue paper but he wasn't THAT bad.
P.S. **** you Poti you ****ing nerd! Remember that?
That was Poti's best NHL season. Unfortunately, his time with the Rangers was downhill from there.
Poti was a victim of the time he played for us. He was traded for a popular player (York) who was everything Poti wasn't, at least in Ranger fans eyes. He (somewhat unfairly) became the poster child for the kind of meek, uninspired play that characterized those early 2000s Ranger teams.
Those teams, and players like Poti, couldn't be more polar opposite of the current Rangers. You almost wish they could play against each other to illustrate that point.
Wasnt that the year Poti was the Rangers only all-star? Ouch
Poti didn't deserve the crao he got but Edge us right that in hind sight he kind of embodied the problems those teams had. In a good team he probably would have been a fine player
He'll likely get around 50 points next season, and become an elite defenseman.
I can definitely see him getting to 50 points next year but in order to take the next step as an overall defenseman, he still needs to improve a lot defensively.
Combine that with an improved defensive awareness, and you can't help but like the possibilities.
If MDZ reaches his potential he can score more then 55. In terms of pure offense he's amongst the best in the league. However I'd be fine with 55 points if he can maintain the defense he has this year.
BTW, MDZ now has more goals than Ryan Getzlaf in fewer games. WTF happened to that guy?
Getzlaf will rebound, he's just having one of those years. Anaheim has quite a bit of talent to work with. Talent that is still young enough to do some damage. They need to upgrade their defense, including their goaltending, but they're a team that could become dangerous sooner rather than later.
I know he was soft as tissue paper but he wasn't THAT bad.
Remember that?
