 |
| Chris McGrath/Getty Images |
At this point it is becoming painfully clear that the
New York Rangers have no idea what to do with second-year defenseman Michael
Del Zotto. The number mixed messages the
team is sending to him and about him is reaching staggering proportions right now. All we do know for sure is that at some point
over these three days off the Rangers will make a decision on whether to send
Michael back to the Connecticut Whale or keep him here with the NHL team. We have no idea if a decision in either
direction will be stuck with for any length of time because they cannot stick
with the ones they have already made, or at least the public comments about
him.
When Del Zotto was initially brought back due to the rib
injury to Dan Girardi, coach John Tortorella went out of his way to tell anyone
who would listen that the reason for his return was purely about the injury and
not improved play. It was a clear
statement of intent and an accurate assessment of the fact that the six games
he had played in Hartford had not cured the ailments that forced him to be sent
down. Following the two games in which
he filled in for Giardi, Del Zotto was sent down to the AHL to play while the NHL
All-Star Break happened.
Based on what Tortorella had said upon Del Zotto’s
initial recall, and the play of the Rangers defensive core before the Girardi
injury, one would not be out of bounds in expecting Del Zotto not to return
after the break with all six defenders healthy.
Well, he did. The Rangers initially
recalled Del Zotto again while claiming him as a sort of insurance for Girardi
if he was not fully healed in time for the their next game. Turns out he was, but Del Zotto was in and
Steve Eminger was scratched.
After an up and down first two games following the
break, before Saturday’s game against the Canadiens coach John Tortorella made
a declaration of sort when it came to Del Zotto.
Tortorella said, “We’re in the process of developing
him, too. When it comes to younger guys and older guys, though Emmy is not 35
years old, we’re going to continue to work with the younger guy if we see fit.
He’ll continue there unless we see fit to make a change.”
Just two days after that statement, and off a decent
game for Del Zotto against Montreal, Tortorella said before Monday’s game that
Michael could head back to Connecticut.
"We've been keeping our eye on all the 'D,' and
we'll make decisions over the next few days. With Michael, it's still part of a
process. Is it best for him here, is it best for him there [in Hartford]? We
have to figure what's best for him because eventually, that's what's going to
be best for the organization."
My thoughts on what the team should do with
Del Zotto are very clear from last Friday and the way this is being
handled only furthers the stance I have not only on what they should do, but
who is to blame for this scenario.
The
organization needs to bite the bullet one way or the other when it comes to Del
Zotto. Either you commit to leaving him
for the whole year and taking the ups and downs that go with it or you send him
down to develop and leave him there for the rest of the year. All these mixed messages are not good for Del
Zotto’s psyche and neither is the dance of sending him down and calling him
up. Make a decision before you end
having the lack of one ruin this tremendous talent.
