Q&A with Rangers Prospect Michael Del Zotto

Anyone who watches hockey closely or has played the game knows the road to the NHL is a difficult one. Consider that there are over one million hockey players around the world – 500,000 registered in minor hockey in Canada alone – and only 600 roster spots on 30 NHL teams, and the task of cracking a lineup would be near impossible for young players.

Take New York Rangers prospect defenceman Michael Del Zotto for instance.  After being drafted second overall in the 2006 OHL Priority Draft behind Steven Stamkos, Del Zotto did not disappoint, scoring 57 points in 64 games with the Oshawa Generals.  After a point per game season in 2007/08, Del Zotto returned from Rangers camp for the 2008/09 season and split it between Oshawa and the London Knights.  Once again he did not disappoint, posting 63 points in 62 games played.  He was also a force in the playoffs, with 19 points and 18 PIM’s in 14 games.

As many players can attest to, being drafted is one of the happiest days of a hockey players dream.  It finally lets them know, “I have the chance to make it.” But this is where the real work begins.  New nutrition and training plans are implemented, as well as a completely new hockey mentality.  After all, they’re boys attempting to play with grown men.

I was able to get in contact with Del Zotto before he left for rookie camp for a quick Q&A; most notably on what he did this past summer in preparation for Rangers camp, and his expectations for his second go around at cracking this season’s lineup.

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How was your summer?

Not too bad, I was travelling a lot.  I went home for a bit, and then went to New York to scope out the situation and was there for about 6 weeks or so.  I then came home to start skating in London.

Has your training changed from last summer to this summer at all?

A little bit, just through the different trainers, but it’s mostly been the same.  The game has changed so much that it’s about quickness and speed.  When I was in New York, I was doing a lot of different training trying to improve on those aspects of my game.

Who were you training with?

Mostly with the Rangers head training staff and a few of the younger players.

Which players specifically were there?

Not many of the guys stay around in the summer, but Aaron Vorros was around for the summer.  Most of the guys go home or somewhere else to get away from things.

Did the Rangers tell you anything to work on specifically in the off-season?

Get stronger, nothing too specific.  They like where my speed and weight is at, but they told me I’m playing against men now so I have to build up towards their strength.

Anything they’re expecting from you coming into camp?

They know the strength of my game is the offensive side.  One facet of the game they need help on is quarterbacking of the powerplay as it wasn’t that strong last season.  I think one of the goals for me is to come in and prove to them that I can play that position.

Is there anything they wanted you to change about your game, ie. Defensive side?

Ya that’s one thing I’ve need to improve on, and they’ve been very impressed with how I’ve improved on that facet of my game especially in playoff time last season.  I’m not really a shot blocker but I was willing to do that and the Rangers told me they were very impressed.

The top four spots have been solidified on the Rangers blueline and it seems like there are a couple of spots available.  What do you feel you have to do to get one of those spots?

The biggest thing for me is to play a solid two way game and show to them that I’m not a liability on the defensive end.  I also need to show that I can generate offense from the backend and help out with the powerplay by [hopefully] quarterbacking it.

If you don’t make the roster this season, you will go back to the Knights again for more fine tuning.  Does that get you down or does it give you more motivation?

It definitely gives me more motivation for sure knowing that there’s one shot for an older guy that gets sent down to Hartford whether it be due to injuries or something happens they have the ability to sent back up.  I don’t have that option so it gives me a little more motivation to give it my all in this one shot.

Are you excited to play against anyone in particular?  Playing with John [Tavares] so much in junior, will be weird playing against him on a cross-town rival?

No not really, it will be fun I think.  Looking at the schedule, if I get to play the first nine games [of the regular season], one of them is Pittsburgh when they raise the banner which will be cool especially playing against Sidney Crosby.  There are also a few games against Alexander Ovechkin in the pre-season and a game in Toronto which will be awesome playing in my hometown in front of family and friends.

Is there anyone in the league now or before you kind of model your game after?

I get asked that a lot.  I like to model my game after myself, and be unique and play my own game.  Offensively I like to play like Mike Green on Washington, with his ability to create offensive on the backend is amazing.

Has your nutrition changed at all?

Last year it did and I’ve kind of stuck with that.  It was the roughest part for me to change was the nutrition and keeping to a strict diet especially travelling and being in different places.  Especially when you’re on the road a lot it gets tough when you’re eating out a lot.

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Overall, there is a lot of training and preparation that goes into trying to make that extra step into the NHL.  Over the next few days, I will be in contact with Del Zotto again to see how this year’s camp has gone, the major differences he’s seen, and hopefully a status update of if he sees himself cracking this years roster.