Looking back: Michael Del Zotto for Kevin Klein
Over the course of the past year, many influential trades have happened in the NHL. In regard to the most significant, there is room for discussion. You could point to the deal between the New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks, where the Devils recieved Brodeur’s successor, in Cory Schneider, for a first round pick. Or maybe the blockbuster deal between the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins where Loui Erikkson, Joseph Morrow, Reilly Smith, and Matt Fraser where sent to “Beantown” for the phenom Tyler Seguin, Rich Peverley, and Ryan Button. However, in my opionion, the most underrated transaction of the bunch was between the New York Rangers and the Nashville Predators, where Micheal Del Zotto was sent to Nashville for Kevin Klein.
Michael Del Zotto was selected 28th overall in the 2008 NHL Draft by the Rangers, and was expected to thrive in the Big Apple. He was granted the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October 2009, after putting up 12 points in his first 14 games. Many thought they saw the next “Brain Leetch” in the young 19 year old. His skating ability and offensive prowess as a defenseman modeled that of the Rangers’ all-time great. However, from that point on, things didn’t pan out. He struggled with inconsistency, constantly being reassigned to the AHL. Fans become very frustrated with his lackluster play because of such high standards he was held to. He was coined as “Micheal Del ‘High and Wide'” and when he wasn’t the team’s scapegoat, he was the healthy scratch. Michael still was only a 23 year old kid with offensive potential, just maybe not fit for New York. On January 22, 2014, New York Rangers GM Glen Sather made the executive decision to trade Del Zotto to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Kevin Klein.
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Originally, Klein was a player Rangers fans knew very little about. Klein was drafted 37th overall in the 2003 NHL draft by the Predators. It was in the 2007-2008 season Klein became a full-time starter, but over his first seven seasons, his numbers were never anything special. However, head coach Alain Vigneault noted “I’ve seen him for many years. Solid two-way defenseman, more of a defensive-type defenseman. Right handed shot.” Upon arrival in New York, Klein was a fan favorite. He was a steady, stabilizing force (everything Del Zotto wasn’t) behind the Rangers 2013-2014 Stanley Cup Final run. Who knows what he did in the offseason, because this year he has been nothing short of outstanding. Klein is tied with the likes of Shea Weber, Duncan Keith and TJ Brodie for 6 goals on the year and he’s not even on a power play unit! This kind of offensive contribution is remarkable when you consider the kind of low-key blueliner he was in Nashville for several years. Not to mention two of those goals were OT winners, one of them coming just last game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, after getting a gash on his ear stitched up nonethelesss.
Ryan McDonagh has the “C” but Kevin Klein has been a leader this year, for sure. In the locker room and on the ice, Klein has stepped up in a big way, especially when you think about the vacancies on the back end for the Rangers to start the season. And how is that potential stud Del Zotto doing? Well, he’s since been moved to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he’s currently in head coach Craig Berube‘s dog house. Looking back, this deal was a figurative robbery by Glen Sather and the New York Rangers.