We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Q&A With Rangers Defenceman Michael Del Zotto (Pt.2)

Written by: Jesse Michael on 1st October 2009

PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT

Del Zotto's offensive prowess has him starting the season with the New York Rangers. | read this item

If you were able to catch the first interview with Del Zotto, you would have seen the things a rookie prospect goes through in the summer preparing for his second shot with the big club. I could tell many things were going through his mind, including how potentially devastating it could be to be sent down to London of the OHL…again.

For now though, Del Zotto has made the cut through training camp and will start the season with the Rangers on Friday night against Pittsburgh. A big step for a kid who many thought wasn’t ready for the NHL limelight after his draft position dropped and the demotion to the OHL last season.

I caught up with Del Zotto after the news that he had made the opening day roster. We touched on many topics, including; the process of training camp, being the second youngest player to start the season a Ranger, the banner raising ceremony, and his relationship with Sean Avery.

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What was the process of training camp like, compared to the OHL?

I think the first thing was that we had a rookie tournament with a lot of the young guys. There was six or eight teams in Traverse City. We played four games in five nights there and then came back to training camp. It was probably the toughest thing I’ve ever been through to be quite honest, a lot different than last year just because of [John] Torterella’s outlook. He was big in conditioning. We had two different skating tests and a three mile run all within 24 hours; and ended up doing it a couple times during the week. It was probably the toughest thing I’ve ever been through, but I’m glad it’s all over and hockey’s starting.

What does it mean to you to make the opening day roster?

It’s huge. It’s a great confidence boost. They have a lot of depth on the back end here and being able to come out of camp and step in to the first game is a huge confidence boost. There are still the nine game stint where I can be sent down, so there are some more accomplishments I need to achieve.

Have they talked to you about the nine game stint? Are you there for the full nine?

They haven’t said a word to me since I’ve been here. All I saw was my name written up on the board that I was in the roster for Friday night’s game.

You’ll be the youngest player since Don Maloney of the 1974-75 team to start the season with the Rangers. Your thoughts?

I had no idea until I read that and really don’t know what to think about it. I guess the next youngest was Brian Leetch so I’m following in some big footsteps. He was an amazing defenceman and hopefully I can have as good of a career as he did. I like to model my game a bit game a bit after him, mostly in the way he contributes offensively. I have some big footsteps to fill.

Many people were saying that you weren’t good enough to make the team based on the draft and last season’s cut. Did you use this as motivation?

Definitely. I think dropping in the draft, and not being invited to the World Junior camp this summer provided that much more motivation to prove to all those people that they’re wrong about what they think of me as a player and a person off the ice. I’ve done everything I can to make the opening night roster, and I’m going to continue do that to stick here all year.

Any indication of who you’ll be playing with? Any powerplay time?

Right now on the power play I was with [Ales] Kotalik, [Marian] Gaborik, [Vinny] Prospal, and [Ryan] Callahan. And partnered up with [Michael] Rozsival right now but that’s just practice. Things change in games so we’ll see what happens.

What do you have to do to prepare against Crosby, Malkin and the Penguins and not be all bug-eyed opening night

It’s nothing to do physically, it’s mostly mental toughness that way. Just going into the game making sure I’m prepared. I did a lot of the physical things this summer and working hard off the ice to try and get better on the ice. You kind of watch a player and you get wowed by some of the plays they make. You aren’t out there to see what they can do. You’re playing against them, they’re rivals, and you have to do anything you can to stop them.

The banner raising is Friday night in Pittsburgh. How do you stay focused on the task at hand and not get caught up in the moment?

There are a lot of distractions like that that go on throughout the season and this will just be the first one. It’s going to be a great moment seeing the banner being raised, and hopefully is a preview for that to happen in my career; maybe even this year. I’m just going to take it all in and enjoy the moment and then just play my game.

Will you guys be on the bench for the ceremony?

I’m not too sure, they haven’t said anything about that. I don’t know how that works.

What’s your relationship with Torterella?

He’s an unbelievable coach. The style of play he likes and his ability to teach, especially with the younger guys, he’s been awesome. He’s helped me out along the way, helping out with little details doing video, and what not. He’s been amazing to me

Much has been made about Sean Avery’s character as a player in the dressing room as a teammate and off the ice. Anything stick out to you about him?

He’s a great guy. You hear a lot of things being said about him but I sit beside him in the dressing room at the practice facility and he’s an amazing guy. He’s keeping me in good spirits, making jokes and has gone out of his way to make sure I’m comfortable and welcome. I don’t have enough good things to say about him.

Any others on the team you’ve clicked with right off the hop?

All of them. They’re all great guys and gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. They’ve all been amazing to me and I’ve had a blast being with them.

Do you know who you’ll be rooming with on the road?

Last game I was rooming with Brandon Dubinsky, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen for next game. I’m assuming it will be the same, but we’ll wait and see I guess.

With Brandon signing his contract, did that take some of the angst out of the dressing room with him coming back to the team?

There was obviously a lot of talk going on, but you realize your first day there that it’s a lot different than Junior. You realize it is a business, and everyone goes about their own business and doesn’t worry about that too much. They’re mostly worried about themselves and their own job security.

Now that you’ve made the roster, do you’ve met your goals or need to work on anything else to stay in the NHL?

I think I just need to keep playing how I am and bring my confidence level up more. I’d like to contribute a little more offensively especially on the power play. I’ve got a few points, but I’d like to get a few more; create more offence and stay reliable in my own end.

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After this conversation, I could definitely see that Del Zotto had a little more confidence in his voice and felt ready to go for Friday night’s game. It will be interesting to see if he remains with the big club – ie. Luke Schenn last season – or if he will be returned to the London Knights once his nine games are up.

Topics: Ales Kotalik, Don Maloney, Marian Gaborik, Michael Del Zotto, New York Rangers, NHL Opening Night, Pittsburgh Penguins, Prospect Michael Del Zotto, Rangers Defenceman, Rangers Prospect, Rangers vs. Penguins, Ryan Callahan, Vinny Prospal