Del Zotto motivated

[Podein25]

@CoachX

It's not certain to me that he has an attitude problem per se. He has been humbled to be sure.

And he may not have the requisite hockey smarts to be properly coachable, but I think the main risk factor is his actual game.

[CoachX]

so, you are essentially saying, in a very eloquent way, that he is a dumbazz

[pilldoc]

I see some irony and humor here. I don't blame anyone for being excited and optimistic, after all we are Flyers fans, but I wonder how long it will take for reality to overcome hope. We have a young guy here who on all accounts has attitude issues that have practically made him unwantable to every team in the league, including the Flyers, and appears to be on the verge of finding a career working for Jiffy-Lube (not that there is anything wrong with that). Given the fickle nature of our fan base, and the often times ruthless opinions we generate, I can imagine what will be said about him by the end of October.

 

He could be the steal of the offseason, ..... lol ..... and Michael Leighton could have been a legit number one goal tender

 

you are certainly correct in your assessment.   We are a fickle bunch, however, like @Podein25, MDZ has been humbled.  We don't know what we are going to get.  As I made mention in another post, it is put up of shut up time for one Mr. MDZ.  I think given the circumstance, Hexy did a great job here.  Very low risk (1 year @ 1.3 million ) and potential high reward. (he plays like he did his rookie year).  I think as long as he keeps his trap shut, works hard every shift of every night he plays, then let the chips fall where they fall.  I do honestly believe that if he works out, that we are all hoping for then us tough Philly fans will back him.  If he lazy then then the wrath of Flyers fans will be bestowed upon him.

 

The ball is in your court MDZ.

[FreakinFlyersFan]

MDZ has a chip on his shoulder, I can see him playing well for the Flyers this year.

[Samifan]

Gonna go out on a limb and say that if MDZ remains healthy, he will lead the d-men in points this season.

[Podein25]

Gonna go out on a limb and say that if MDZ remains healthy, he will lead the d-men in points this season

 

I will see your limb and raise you a tree trunk that MDZ leads the team in that useless stat plus/minus.

[FreakinFlyersFan]

Gonna go out on a limb and say that if MDZ remains healthy, he will lead the d-men in points this season.

I hope you're right but that's going out...way out on that limb.

[JackStraw]

I hope you're right but that's going out...way out on that limb.

 

I don't know, the only guy that maybe should out-score him would be Streit. Unless MacDonald has a big year one would think Del Zotto would be at least 2nd among Flyers defensemen. Assuming of course Timonen doesn't play, or comes back later in the year.

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

I see some irony and humor here. I don't blame anyone for being excited and optimistic, after all we are Flyers fans, but I wonder how long it will take for reality to overcome hope. We have a young guy here who on all accounts has attitude issues that have practically made him unwantable to every team in the league, including the Flyers, and appears to be on the verge of finding a career working for Jiffy-Lube (not that there is anything wrong with that). Given the fickle nature of our fan base, and the often times ruthless opinions we generate, I can imagine what will be said about him by the end of October.

 

He could be the steal of the offseason, ..... lol ..... and Michael Leighton could have been a legit number one goal tender

 

I've never read of Del Zotto having attitude issues. All of his teammates he's ever played with have stated that he's a great guy in the locker room and that during his summer training this year, his trainers couldn't get over how optimistic and positive he was. If telling your coach that you don't play well on the right side and prefer to be on the left side is having an attitude issue, then every player in the league should come under the same scrutiny. Of note, David Poille also said that he wanted to re-sign Del Zotto, but that he didn't want to re-sign him at the cost of what his qualifying offer was going to be. Even Alain Vigneault said he liked Del Zotto and that he never had a problem with him. So, I honestly don't understand where the attitude issues stem from. Maybe he was a little aloof in his approach to the game and maybe that might have rubbed people the wrong way, but attitude? Nope, can't say that I've read anything on Del Zotto having a bad attitude or being a locker room problem. He's a guy who had a bad year (which happens to all players).

 

In terms of production, I'm going with Samifan on this one - if Del Zotto stays healthy, he's going to rack up a number of points and he'll probably lead the Flyers blueline in scoring. When he put up 41 points in 2011 - 2012, he did so on a Rangers team that was the third lowest scoring team to qualify for the playoffs that year. Put him in Philadelphia and with some of the fire power that's there, there should be no reason why he can't match or exceed that number. I'll go on record right now say that if Del Zotto's healthy, there's no reason to believe he can't surpass 50+ points.

[doom88]

I will see your limb and raise you a tree trunk that MDZ leads the team in that useless stat plus/minus.

Which way?

[Podein25]

Which way? 

 

Indeed.

[LegionOfDoom]

I will go on that limb as well with Sami, I'll stay closer to the trunk, though.

[jammer2]

@Samifan  I'll say tied for 2nd with the MacDaddy. I think Streit leads the Flyers d in pts.

[OccamsRazor]

MCCARTHY: DEL ZOTTO LOOKING TO PROVE DOUBTERS WRONG

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=459773

 

TORONTO - When Michael Del Zotto broke into the NHL in 2009-2010 with the Rangers, the game seemed to come easy for him. He led the New York that season in scoring among defenseman and finished second among all rookie defenseman, including ahead of Erik Karlsson.

 

But it's been an up and down ride in the four years since for Del Zotto, a journey that included a demotion to the AHL in his second season, falling out of favour with the Rangers as a healthy scratch, and  finally a trade to the Nashville Predators where he would play just 25 games before becoming a free agent.

 

Coach Barry Trotz suggested in March that “(Del Zotto's) game had slipped” and he was again relegated to the press box. When the season ended, Del Zotto did not receive a qualifying offer, leading the 24-year-old to unrestricted free agency after just five NHL seasons.

 

It took until August 5 before he finally caught on with another team, signing with the Flyers on a one-year, $1.3 million deal – a pay cut of $1.25 million on his annual salary the past two seasons.

 

“Yeah, it was a different summer for me,” Del Zotto admitted after day two of  the BioSteel camp in Toronto on Tuesday. “Last season didn't go as well as I would have liked but it's been a very humbling summer but a very motivating summer.”

Del Zotto denied that he had taken for granted the success that he experienced early in his career.

 

“No I don't think so,” he said. “It's a tough league to play in. I had a couple good years and obviously last year didn't go as well as I would have liked but it's in the past. I don't really want to reflect on that.”

 

Now with 317 NHL games under his belt, the older, wiser – but still young – Del Zotto acknowledged the last year was a reality check for him and now he's determined to turn his career back in the right direction.

“I've never worked this hard, I feel very good mentally and physically with Matty Nichol (of BioSteel) here helping me out. I just can't wait for the season to start and prove a lot of people wrong.”

 

The biggest thing he's learned so far from his five NHL seasons? Making sure good outings are not one-offs and that long-term success at the NHL level requires consistency.

“The biggest thing you learn is you have to bring consistency to your game,” Del Zotto explained. “You could have one good game but you need to follow it up with another one. It's not about having one here or one there, it's a long season and obviously with playoffs too, you have to keep it consistent throughout that whole time.”

Recently, players similar to Del Zotto, but with less experience –Jake Gardiner and Justin Faulk – signed lucrative long term extensions. It would be easy for the Stouffville, ON native to wonder where he went wrong in his career but said there's little use in comparing himself to others right now.

 

“I don't like to really compare myself to any other players around the league,” he said. “I just want to be my own player and not reflect on that side of it.”

 

Del Zotto's opportunity came when Kimmo Timonen was diagnosed with blood clots in his right leg and both lungs in early August, leaving him out indefinitely and possibly putting his career in jeopardy. The loss left the Flyers with a need for a puck moving defenseman who can play on the power play, thus opening the door for Del Zotto.

“I know what I can bring to the Philadelphia Flyers and what I can do to help them out,” he said. “I'm confident in myself and confident I can get back to where I used to be.”

 

[doom88]

Exciting, but just words. I hope it works out on ice. It would be a nice FU to the Rags

[jammer2]

@OccamsRazor  I was very impressed with the shape MDZ was in when you posted the ice bucket challenge thingy....he certainly looks like he is taking this chance he has been given seriously, a great sign going forward.

[OccamsRazor]

@OccamsRazor  I was very impressed with the shape MDZ was in when you posted the ice bucket challenge thingy....he certainly looks like he is taking this chance he has been given seriously, a great sign going forward.

 

 

Yes it looks like he is shape but looks can be deceiving...training camp and preseason will tell the tale i hope he is though it will benefit the Flyers if he is. 

[jammer2]

@OccamsRazor  Yeah, sometimes guys can look good but have insufficient cardio to hold up during long trying games. Usually though, a players body fat mirrors his cardio, so MDZ's lack of body fat is good news from where I sit.

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

I think I've mentioned that some of the people I work with also play hockey at the facility Del Zotto was training out of here in London and they said he looked fantastic and that his cardio was off the chart. One of the guys said that Del Zotto was skating before they arrived, partook in a game of shinny with the guys that was about two and half hours in length, and then went back to his skating drills again after the game was over. This was something that Del Zotto was doing daily and that he was at the Western Fair Grounds Arena from sunrise until sunset. I'm really looking forward to when Del Zotto gets to training camp and he's skating circles around everyone. I know I'm forever the eternal optimist, but I've got a really good feeling that Del Zotto is going to have a monster season for the Flyers and that he's going to want to prove a lot of people wrong. 

[doom88]

Physical skills are a great thing to work on, but hopefully he's got some videos to watch too. The modern NHL requires both physical and mental abilities. Instincts, positioning, chemistry, and systems are all mental.

Still hoping for the best, and always happy to hear encouraging information!

[jammer2]

but I've got a really good feeling that Del Zotto is going to have a monster season for the Flyers and that he's going to want to prove a lot of people wrong.

 

 I'm a little more skeptical. I don't think zebra's change their spots to often. I fear him busting ass for TC and the early season....but reverting back to his own ways once he gets comfortable. Hopefully this is not the case. I'm willing to wipe the slate clean and strictly judge him on his time as a Flyer. He's gonna have to work to earn the fans respect...and then stick to it, hopefully he's up to the challenge.

[doom88]

I'm a little more skeptical. I don't think zebra's change their spots to often. I fear him busting ass for TC and the early season....but reverting back to his own ways once he gets comfortable. Hopefully this is not the case. I'm willing to wipe the slate clean and strictly judge him on his time as a Flyer. He's gonna have to work to earn the fans respect...and then stick to it, hopefully he's up to the challenge.

Maybe, but kids do grow up. He's young and had very early success. Recently, he's had some difficulty. Now, let's see the kind of man he is.

[OccamsRazor]

. I don't think zebra's change their spots to often.

 

When the hell did Zebra's get spots????? Ebola??

 

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

 

I guess i need to put the beer down now!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Podein25]

When the hell did Zebra's get spots????? Ebola??

Bwahahahaha, good one.

[The Quigster]

First of all, I hope MDZ does well and performs beyond  all expectations. I was trying to think of all the project players that the Flyers acquired over the years and can't think of any that really worked out. Anybody here name some?