A first-round pick (No. 20) of the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Draft, Del Zotto has developed into a useful two-way defenseman who says he gets as much pleasure out of blocking shots as he does taking them.
Del Zotto was strictly an offensive-minded player when he made his NHL against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 2, 2009 at the age of 19 years, 100 days. He was the youngest defenseman in Rangers history to play in a season opener.
A first-round pick (No. 20) of the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Draft, Del Zotto has developed into a useful two-way defenseman who says he gets as much pleasure out of blocking shots as he does taking them.
Del Zotto was strictly an offensive-minded player when he made his NHL against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 2, 2009 at the age of 19 years, 100 days. He was the youngest defenseman in Rangers history to play in a season opener.
Del Zotto's youth was hardly a problem. He scored his first NHL goal the next day against the Ottawa Senators and went on to finish eighth for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the top rookie in the NHL, after ranking second among first-year defensemen with 37 points and leading all rookies with 18 power-play assists. He also had the most goals (nine), assists (28) and points among Rangers defensemen, and led them in those categories again in 2011-12 with 10 goals, 31 assists and 41 points.
Del Zotto was traded to the Nashville Predators for Kevin Klein on Jan. 22, 2014, where he played 25 games before signing a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on Aug. 5, 2014. He spent three seasons in Philadelphia and played for the Vancouver Canucks in 2017-18 before skating for three teams (Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis Blues) in 2018-19.
Del Zotto, a native of Stouffville, Ontario, played in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in 2005-06 with Markham. He played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League and had 63 points for Oshawa in 2007-08, tying for third in the OHL among defensemen.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- NHL All-Rookie Team (2010)
- Signed as a free agent by Rapperswil (Swiss), October 31, 2012.
- Traded to Nashville by NY Rangers for Kevin Klein, January 22, 2014.
- Signed as a free agent by Philadelphia, August 5, 2014.
- Signed as a free agent by Vancouver, July 1, 2017.
- Traded to Anaheim by Vancouver for Luke Schenn and Vancouver's 7th-round pick in 2020 NHL Draft, January 17, 2019.
- Traded to St. Louis by Anaheim for St. Louis' 6th-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft, February 25, 2019.
