Michael Del Zotto

Last year, Michael Del Zotto played in just 47 games for the New York Rangers. By late February, 2011, the Rangers organization made the decision to send him down to their AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale.

Del Zotto would only play 11 games for the Whale before suffering a string of injuries.

The NHL has some of the toughest men on the face of the earth gracing its ice, but sometimes emotions run high.

That’s what happened when the New York Rangers took on the Florida Panthers and things got physical in front of Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers’ net.

It's no secret that the Rangers have been in major need of some offensive.  The New York Rangers started this offseason needing to resign several key components, obtain a true number one center, and find a puck moving defenseman.

Last night at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers Michael Del Zotto simply looked lost. He didn't look comfortable in his own end, and really showed how much confidence he's lost since being scratched at the end of December, and then sent to the AHL earlier this month.

February 28th will be here sooner than you think, and as it approaches, NHL teams will have one final chance to bolster their roster in an effort to carve their names into history at season's end. As teams jockey for playoff position, we take a look ahead at who's going to be on the move leading up to and including the deadline day.

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Well hockey fans, it is officially 2010-11, as training camps around the league, including the New York Rangers, are open for business.

Of course I'm not at the practice facility each day with the team, but I have been reading blog posts and tweets from several beat writers in attendance, and will bring you a bit of a collection of thoughts each day.

Day #10: New York Rangers 

2010 Record: 38-33-11 (87 Points), 9^th in the Eastern Conference

Roster Changes

2010-2011 Notable Arrivals: Alexander Frolov (LA), Martin Biron (NYI), Todd White (ATL), Derek Boogaard (MIN), Steve Eminger (ANH), Mats Zuccarello Aasen (NOR)

"With the 10th overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Rangers select, from the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors, Dylan McIlrath."

Wait, what?

Yep, those same Rangers from 2009-10 who couldn't buy a goal with all the money they wasted over the years on Pavel Bure, Eric Lindros, Petr Nedved (twice), Theo Fleury, Anson Carter, Alex Kovalev (also twice), and many more took a big, mean defenseman with their first-round pick tonight, much to the surprise of, well, everyone.

A year ago, everyone thought Bobby Sanguinetti was the Rangers’ top defensive prospect, but as it turns out, the 19-year-old Michael Del Zotto leap-frogged him onto the roster and put together one impressive season. Not impressive enough to win the Calder Trophy given to the best rookie, but he did finish seventh in a recent Hockey’s Future poll:

7. Michael Del Zotto, D—New York Rangers
6′1", 195 lbs. DOB: June 24, 1990
Drafted 20th overall (First Round) in 2008

At one point in the first period last night in Pittsburgh, it seemed as if this team was dropping like flies—as Marian Gaborik was huffing and puffing in pain on the bench, Michael Del Zotto left the game with a giant gash under his le