Rangers Will Likely Meet With Michael Del Zotto’s Agents To Discuss His Situation

[chuckd3534]

With the Rangers in Toronto tomorrow to take on the Maple Leafs, it’s expected that Rangers management will meet with Newport Sports, the agents for Michael Del Zotto, to discuss the Rangers “continued efforts” to trade Del Zotto. (Darren Dreger)

 

[chuckd3534]

Some other stuff:

Taylor Pyatt is on the ice this morning with the Penguins and skating on a third line with Joe Vitale and Craig Adams.



Ryan Callahan is taking line rushes with Carl Hagelin and JT Miller. (Larry Brooks)

Callahan has taken Benoit Pouliot’s spot but Pouliot is skating with the first PP unit (Brooks)

All of the other Ranger lines are intact (Brooks)

Alain Vigneault will announce the Rangers lineup after practice ends.

 

[chuckd3534]

JT Miller is a healthy scratch (Steve Zipay)

Henrik Lundqvist is net and the defense remains the same with Michael Del Zotto and Justin Falk out of the lineup.

Ryan Callahan will return to the Rangers lineup tonight against the Penguins. (Andrew Gross)

 

[chuckd3534]

So MDZ scratched again, like we knew he would be. Talking to his agents. I am sure he is gone now. Just a matter of when, where, and for what exactly.

 

[Ranger71]

Why do the agents come into play? If they want to trade him they cant stop it.

 

[chuckd3534]

Of course not, but I am sure they want to know WTF is up with the Rangers and their client. Plus a lot of time agents get involved to help facilitate something. Not always, but sometimes that happens as well.

We'll see...

 

[theProdigy223]

Don't really like Miller getting the scratch. Why not scratch Dom Moore and have Miller center Boyle and Dorsett just to give the kid minutes? Better than having him in the skybox. Yeah the current 4th line has been somewhat effective but they still can't score a damn goal.

 

[chuckd3534]

Two reasons I think:

1. They like what they have with that 4th line (right or wrong).
2. Miller is not a 4th line guy. They don't think he adds value there.

IMO we get through tomorrow and Miller is back down to get minutes in a top 9 role.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Scratching Miller is dumb. The only reason I don't think he's in Hartford is because Sather is planning on moving a forward also with MDZ.

 

[theProdigy223]

For a team that is struggling to score goals we need all the offense we can get and that 4th line as currently constructed has none of it. How many goals have they combined for? I'm guessing 4 all season. Pouliot could play the 4th while staying on the PP, no reason Miller has to come out.

 

[chuckd3534]

I think the only reason he is not in Hartford is they weren't sure Cally was going to play tonight. He will be back down by Monday. Not saying they wouldn't deal him, but I don't think that is why he's up still.

 

[chuckd3534]

Miller has 2 goals and 3 points. Pouliot has been their 2nd best forward recently. I am fine with pulling Miller. He will be down by Monday assuming no injuries.

 

[theProdigy223]

Miller has also looked 100x better than Dom freaking Moore who continues to impress me with his uselessness.

 

[chuckd3534]

Dom Moore stinks, no debate there. But for a 4th line role I don't think they want to use Miller. He needs to play more than that and is better suited for a top 9 spot. That's the thinking I believe.

Miller isn't anything special scoring wise now anyway, so I don't see it as a huge issue. 3 points for Miller. 4 points for Moore. Both struggle to score (right now for Miller).

 

[Ranger71]

Maybe they can trade something like DZ, 2nd, prospect for Michalek and Wiercoch.

 

[NYR31]

Dom Moore stinks, no debate there. But for a 4th line role I don't think they want to use Miller. He needs to play more than that and is better suited for a top 9 spot. That's the thinking I believe.

Miller isn't anything special scoring wise now anyway, so I don't see it as a huge issue. 3 points for Miller. 4 points for Moore. Both struggle to score (right now for Miller).

Miller gains 0 from sitting, so if he's not going to be in Hartford (like he should) he needs to be on the ice. Scratching him tonight and giving him game tix does nothing for Miller and his development. It's a waste.

 

[chuckd3534]

One or two Hartford games maybe...no biggie IMO. If he is up here past tomorrow night, I would agree with you guys 1000%. He will be in Hartford by Sunday or Monday the latest. Not too concerned about him watching one or two games from upstairs. I think we are going a little overboard on that. If they keep him up here past tomorrow night, then I will be angry as well.

 

[dumpstralmannow]

Let's face it. Edmonton needs to remove their head from their ass and make some deals. Same with Detroit. Those seem to be the two best places for MDZ.

 

[chuckd3534]

The Pack have the same schedule as the Rangers this weekend, tonight and tomorrow night. They are then off until next weekend. So maybe he watches two games up here, just to be sure everyone/Cally is healthy, and then heads down. No issues with that.

Would I put him in over D. Moore...maybe I would, but honestly I don't see it as a big deal. So he misses 10 minutes or so of play tonight, I'll live. If they get dumb and keep him up here moving forward, yeah then I have a bigger issue.

 

[Ranger71]

DZ has played better of late, which isn't saying much because he still gives no offense which is his thing. But Allen needs time so I think that's hurting him too.

 

[chuckd3534]

Let's face it. Edmonton needs to remove their head from their ass and make some deals. Same with Detroit. Those seem to be the two best places for MDZ.

Someone will bite at some point soon, but we need to be honest and see the Rangers don't have much leverage with other teams right now.


We scratch him a lot.
We clearly have been looking to move him for a while.
Highly doubtful we'd re-sign him this summer.
He is an RFA this summer.

So a lot going against us swinging a very good deal for DZ since we held too long IMO. But it only takes one desperate team to meet a solid price and we can get a deal done, so we'll see. But we aren't doing anyone any favors by holding onto MDZ at the moment and scratching him. Not him or us.

 

[theProdigy223]

Any chance EDM would be willing to part with Eberle? I like him the best out of any of their forwards

 

[Ranger71]

Someone will bite at some point soon, but we need to be honest and see the Rangers don't have much leverage with other teams right now.


We scratch him a lot.
We clearly have been looking to move him for a while.
Highly doubtful we'd re-sign him this summer.
He is an RFA this summer.

So a lot going against us swinging a very good deal for DZ since we held too long IMO. But it only takes one desperate team to meet a solid price and we can get a deal done, so we'll see. But we aren't doing anyone any favors by holding onto MDZ at the moment and scratching him. Not him or us.

That's why they should just take back a UFA who can help this team for the rest of the year, and maybe a B-prospect.

 

[theProdigy223]

nevermind

 

[chuckd3534]

We should take a solid offer and move on. Don't need to hit a HR. Just a solid offer that will help the team. Do NOT just deal him to deal him, but a solid offer and done.

 

[NYR31]

Any chance EDM would be willing to part with Eberle? I like him the best out of any of their forwards

Yes, in our dreams.

 

[chuckd3534]

Del Zotto’s agents hope to chat with Glen Sather tomorrow in Toronto after Sather joins the team. Sather is currently in NY and Jeff Gorton just returned from the WJC in Sweden and is not scheduled to join the team in Toronto. (NY Post)

The Rangers aren’t being “aggressive” in their pursuit of trading Del Zotto. (NY Post)

Del Zotto’s agents will be at the game, which is not uncommon, but no official meeting is scheduled between the Rangers and Leafs. It is still likely that the Rangers and Del Zotto’s agent will meet. (Daily News)

Del Zotto’s agency also represents Brad Richards, Henrik Lundqvist and upcoming UFA Dan Girardi.

 

[mrmel29]

Meeting with Del z's agents imo is to do damage control and keep them happy in case their the agents of some ranger targets in free agency and don't have the agents steering these future free agents to other teams. At this point I don't know what the hell AV and slats are doing. Miller should be up 3rd line or 4th is semantics as av unlike torts plays the 4 lines fairly equally. Yes, miller has not scored a ton of goals at this point but has played a lot better lately and has gotten a lot of good scoring chances and has a hard shot that will eventually find the net like kreider has if they keep him in there. Plus the kid skates and hits and causes things to happen. Really, send him back to hartford while useless moore is here. Moore should have been on waivers already and is as useful to us as wet toilet paper. And for del z he is still a talented player and continuously sitting him over the likes of falk arghhhh falk and strahlman is beyond senseless. I think allen has looked good and hope he stays but until and when a del z trade happens he needs to be in the lineup over strahlman and falk(how is falk on this team). Mr.glass(rally) back in the lineup tonight till the next injury and I hope he doesn't cut into pouliot's who is playing well power play time. and when exactly does the dorsett bloom wear off unless we like watching someone who is offensively inept, takes dumb penalties and gets his face kicked in by anybody he's dumb enough to fight. Miller is better than all these guys. What gives here????

 

[jamsim67]

So MDZ scratched again, like we knew he would be. Talking to his agents. I am sure he is gone now. Just a matter of when, where, and for what exactly.

They won't get anything for him, this was mishandled from the start. He should have been traded long ago. I like him, and I still think he will be a good defender, just not with the Rangers.