Rangers Trade Del Zotto to Predators
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Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images(GREENBURGH, N.Y.) — The New York Rangers traded former first-round pick, defenseman Michael Del Zotto to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Kevin Klein, Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Del Zotto has been a healthy scratch multiple times this season and has compiled 11 points in 42 games played.
Klein played in 47 games for Nashville this season compiling a goal and two assists, but New York liked that he was right-handed.
“Our scouts had some real good reports on him,” Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said. “I’ve seen him for many years. Solid two-way defenseman, more of a defensive-type defenseman. Right-handed shot. Michael (left-handed) wasn’t comfortable on the right side. We had to move John Moore there. Johnny Moore is better on the left side, so we just thought for our overall team this would be a better fit for us.”
In 292 games with the Rangers Del Zotto had 121 points.
“I don’t want to criticize Michael,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather said on a conference call. “He had a couple of great years and a couple of interesting years here that didn’t work out the way he or we had planned. People change, the atmosphere changes and we have to change with the time. That’s just the way it worked. I know Michael worked as hard as he could.”
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