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New York Rangers: Top five first round picks in the Lundqvist Era

By Karly Redpath

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 14: Rangers players celebrate goal with fans during the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers NHL game on March 14, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 14: Rangers players celebrate goal with fans during the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers NHL game on March 14, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 07: Michael Del Zotto #4 of the Vancouver Canucks reacts after scoring a goal in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – JANUARY 07: Michael Del Zotto #4 of the Vancouver Canucks reacts after scoring a goal in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

5. Michael Del Zotto

Michael Del Zotto was one of the best offensive defensive draft picks the Rangers landed in the first round — maybe ever. They drafted him 20th overall in the 2008 Entry Draft, he would spend five years in New York prior to a trade to Nashville for defenseman Kevin Klein.

He played his first full season with the Rangers when he was just 19 years old, and was hard to miss. He played in 80 of the Rangers’ 82 games and recorded nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points.

However, he had a sluggish sophomore season, was sent to the minors by Rangers’ former head coach John Tortorella and ended the year with just 11 points (two goals, nine assists, 47 games). He would bounce back in the 2011-12 season, posting 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) but he would never have the opportunity to produce to those standards again.

Tortorella’s termination and the hiring of Alain Vigneault, a coach known for his admiration of defensive defensemen, all but put the final nail in the coffin for Del Zotto.

Under different circumstances, perhaps with a different head coach hire, Del Zotto’s high-caliber offensive ability and responsible defensive play would have been a great addition to a Rangers defense that has struggled to generate offense over the past few seasons.

The Rangers’ selection of Del Zotto was a good one, however, they never took advantage of just how much promise he had.

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