Comments on: Sather on Del Zotto contract offer: He “has until [tomorrow] morning to figure this out”

By: mclovinhockey

mclovinhockey — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 07:59:16 +0000

I think rangersnation is still sore about boosts save

By: mclovinhockey

mclovinhockey — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 07:50:41 +0000

He may be a little rough around the edges but he def should earn at least 3 mill.

By: johnstone17

johnstone17 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:50:59 +0000

Staal & Del Zotto are different types of defensemen. Staal gives more in his end & rarely makes the big turn over. Del Zotto always seems to have that turn over at the worst possible moment. On top of that, someone needs to show him how to keep a puck in @ the point.

By: dyinglemur

dyinglemur — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:30:42 +0000

Staal is a better defenseman than Del Zotto even if he gets 9 points a season. Points aren’t eveything. But admittedly, Staal was not as awesome after he returned from his concussion, hopefully he regains his previous form.

By: dyinglemur

dyinglemur — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:26:33 +0000

How the hell does that get 2 thumbs down? It’s not even an opinion.

By: skippyx

skippyx — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:26:24 +0000

He did have a bad series against the Devils (-6)

Game winning goals in a game 7 are bad now?
If a goal and an assist in a 2-1 game 7 is a bad series then I want 6 of those guys.
6 points and a +2 vs DC

By: skippyx

skippyx — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:09:05 +0000

Staal makes 3.975 a year.
27 points and a +11 got him that contract.
He has never hit 30 points.
He is a combined +1 over the last 2 seasons.
Does Lundqvist leave the ice when Staal plays?

John Carlson makes about 4 million a year.
(37 and +21 earned him the deal)

Both contracts are longer term but 2 years 5 million is low ball.
If Sather disagrees, he can trade MDZ and see where the salary is set.

MDZ is a major reason for last years success.
They should trade him, now losing 3 of their top 8 +- guys and add a career -72 into the mix.
What could go wrong?

Maybe they can play Eminger 22 minutes a night without him.

Sather should offer a 1 year 2.6 million deal and then trade him after because he paid for Nash instead of defense.

By: mmazzzzzz

mmazzzzzz — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 22:01:48 +0000

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass MDZ.
Overrated. Trade him before others realize it.

By: dyinglemur

dyinglemur — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 21:37:58 +0000

Didn’t say he sucks, or said he is the only defenseman to turn the puck over. But he does do it more frequently than most Rangers defensemen, and at crucial times. He has upside, but the mental part of his game needs work.

By: stakex

stakex — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 20:15:19 +0000

First of all nyrangersnation, they have PLENTY of cap space. The Rangers current cap spending, which includes the $5.6 million of Reddens buried contract, is $64,858,334… giving them $5,341,666 of free space AFTER you factor in Redden’s hit. Also, one of their forwards has to be sent down and Sauers $1.25 million cap hit will be coming off the books once hes on IR. So the Rangers will have around $7.3 million in free cap space this year… more then enough to sign Del Zotto to a $3 million deal. Also of note, the Rangers have an extra $1.7 million cap hit this year from Drury’s buyout that goes away next season.

As for all those players they have to re-sign… most of them aren’t due new deals for 2 or 3 years, and some (Callahan, Gaborik, Botle, Girardi, Staal, Lundquist) aren’t going to get much, if any, raise. In fact, most of them will take a pay cut with the new CBA, or as a result of their play… like Gaborik. Stepan, McDonagh, and Hagelin are the only ones they have to re-sign next year (I doubt Sauer will be re-signed, and if he is it will be very cheap)… and only McDonagh is in line for a huge pay day. For those three, the Rangers will have about $8-9 million to re-sign them (factoring in the lower cap of course). Should be plenty.

…and the only thing amazing about Sather has been some of the amazingly bad contracts hes given out. The two most likely buyout candidates going into next summer are both Sather deals, and the Rangers already bought out another Sather failure in Drury. I could go on all day about huge mistakes Sather has made, but as a Rangers fan you know them all too well. He might draft players ok, but thats about all Sather does well.

By: jtrain1966

jtrain1966 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:54:50 +0000

It’s the same thing Doug Armstrong is doing with the Blues . He has told Oshie, Perron, Berglund, & now Stewart to PROVE IT, & so far Oshie, & Perron have, & have been rewarded with new contracts . Time will tell, if Berglund, & Stewart will PROVE IT ! Oshie, & Perron were asking for similar deals, to what Del Zotto is asking, & were told to PROVE IT, & they did ! There’s no reason why Del Zotto can’t do the same .

By: johnstone17

johnstone17 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:14:34 +0000

Never said he sucks. Just said he needs to sign & get in to camp. when he improves his game, he will get the big pay day. It’s all a matter of maturity with him.

By: phillyphanatic77

phillyphanatic77 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:06:32 +0000

MDZ may be worth only $2.5 mil in the eyes of the Rangers and their fans but young, productive defensemen in the NHL are a premium position. They are consistently overpaid because good ones are few and far between. The Rangers don’t want to pay him because they will have several other key players looking for new deals in the next few years, but that won’t stop MDZ from asking for a value he and his agent believe he is worth. In my mind he is similar to Matt Carle, albeit younger. Excellent offensive ability but prone to turnovers and a defensive liability on the other end. And Carle will be paid $5.5 mil this year. Granted he has a larger body of work but it could easily be argued, that based on the market, Sather is absolutely low-balling Del Zotto. So the Rangers have a big decision- they can give him what the market dictates he is worth, continue to low-ball him and probably face him holding out, or look to trade him (unless someone like the Oilers presents an offer sheet). But it is not outlandish at all to say Sather is attempting to get a bargain.

By: scionofflame

scionofflame — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:23:56 +0000

It’s a two-year deal. Take the $2.5 million for two years, prove that you’re more invaluable than a simple 2.5 mil, two-year contract and get something better. That’s how this process works.

By: nyrangersnation

nyrangersnation — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:19:51 +0000

Dear Michael Del Zotto, One good season does not make you worth $3M! It’s a two-year deal worth $2.5M. Show me one defensemen that has a better contract than that and similar production to you. If it is a better contract it’s because the team doesn’t have a ton of young talent on their team and they think you can be a franchise defenseman. The Rangers are giving you two years to show you’re worth at $2.5M

Sign the deal and stop being a jabroni. You’re not helping your case by sitting out. Rangers fans WILL hate you more than we already do. We just missed half a season because of greed between the players and owners. Now you’re going to essentially hold-out (I know it’s not a hold-out when your contract is up). You’re a greedy moron.

By: nyrangersnation

nyrangersnation — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:15:50 +0000

No it doesn’t. He thinks the Rangers low-balled him because the Flyers have essentially no defense and would need MDZ. So his monetary value is much higher because the Flyers need him more than he needs them. Basically, this is my way of intelligently saying that the Flyers suck. If MDZ were on Philly last year, his +/- rating would probably by -10 at best.

By: nyrangersnation

nyrangersnation — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:13:11 +0000

Are you Mental!? Sather has done an amazing job building this team and no he doesn’t have the cap. They have about 6M in cap space and Wade Redden is going to count against the cap so they might not have much less. I’d be surprised if it’s much more than $4M in cap space. They also have to have enough money to be able to re-sign and negotiate with Stepan, Lundqvist, Callahan, Kreider, Gaborik, Boyle, Hagelin, Girardi, Staal, McDonagh, and possibly Sauer. They won’t re-sign all of them obviously but they need the money to keep as much of them as possible. And don’t forget, the Cap declines for next year when McDonagh, Stepan, Hagelin, and Sauer all become RFA’s. And while his stats may show good production, his defense was ATROCIOUS last season. How many times did he pinch and get ABUSED and allow a breakaway. That +20 rating is thanks in VERY VERY LARGE part to Henrik Lundqvist. Del Zotto is definitely not worth 3M. 2.5M is more than fair for him. It’s a two-year deal. Take the deal, prove you’re worth the $3M or maybe more in those two years and then go back to the negotiating table.

By: nate4077

nate4077 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:58:35 +0000

The thing is Rangers have several key players entering RFA in the summer and with the new cap every cent will count. If we can’t sign Stepan, Hagelin and Mcdonough as well as Del Zotto we will have serious gaps in our roster in terms of quality depth.

I think MDZ is worth more but maybe Slats hands are tied.

By: rainyday56

rainyday56 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:51:48 +0000

As soon as the CBA is signed, Flyers will send DZ a ridiculous offer sheet. I think that’s why Sather is saying he has until tomorrow to “figure it out “.

By: lameasish

lameasish — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:20:59 +0000

I didn’t know he was the only d-man who turned the puck over or made some defensive mistakes, but since most commenters on here seem to think that, then why don’t they just trade him. He obviously sucks right?

By: johnstone17

johnstone17 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:07:46 +0000

My point exactly. The talent is there, the maturity is not.

By: johnstone17

johnstone17 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:06:27 +0000

Not yet! How about the blind passes during the playoffs that turned in to chances for the Senators, Capitals & Devils? Talented? Yes! Worth that money when you have others to sign? Not yet.

By: dyinglemur

dyinglemur — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:58:00 +0000

This kid at this point is very, very prone to horrible turnovers if you have watched him. Can be a liability defensively, and despite good offense skills sometimes becomes invisible. The Rangers power play was not very good with him on the point. McDonaugh is a far better defenseman at this point and the money would be much better saved for his impending negotiation at the end of the season.

By: broadstbully33

broadstbully33 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:53:16 +0000

Really? He is one of the rangers best dmen and puts up really good O numbers y would you not give the kid 6 mill over 2 years? Idiot

By: stakex

stakex — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:34:11 +0000

Huh? His stats from last season were 10g / 31a / 41pt / +20. Those are pretty much All Star numbers for a defensemen… why on earth would he be playing for the Whale this year?

$3 million really isn’t an unreasonable request on his part given how he played last year. His played wasn’t that great in the playoffs, and he did have a really bad 2010-11 season so I understand why the Rangers are leary of paying him too much… but they have the cap space and hes worth the risk.

The funny thing is Sather has no problem throwing $6.5 million a year at over the hill free agents (Wade Redden), but when it comes to re-signing home grown players he plays hardball. Hes such a bad GM, I can’t wait till his ass retired. The Rangers might win a cup under him, but it will be inspite of, not because of him.

By: johnstone17

johnstone17 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:21:29 +0000

This kid needs to sign the deal & get in camp. He had the faults in his game exposed last year. The money will come as you earn it son.

By: sampulls

sampulls — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:14:37 +0000

broadstbully33…..your lack of intelligence really shines through by making comments like that.

By: broadstbully33

broadstbully33 — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:03:30 +0000

Wow the rangers low balled him

By: ibieiniid

ibieiniid — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:57:05 +0000

lol good luck getting 3mil a season del zotto. youre lucky youre not on the Whale.