Rangers Will Likely Meet With Michael Del Zotto’s Agents To Discuss His Situation

With the Rangers in Toronto tomorrow to take on the Maple Leafs, it’s expected that Rangers management will meet with Newport Sports, the agents for Michael Del Zotto, to discuss the Rangers “continued efforts” to trade Del Zotto. (Darren Dreger)

 

Some other stuff:

Taylor Pyatt is on the ice this morning with the Penguins and skating on a third line with Joe Vitale and Craig Adams.



Ryan Callahan is taking line rushes with Carl Hagelin and JT Miller. (Larry Brooks)

Callahan has taken Benoit Pouliot’s spot but Pouliot is skating with the first PP unit (Brooks)

All of the other Ranger lines are intact (Brooks)

Alain Vigneault will announce the Rangers lineup after practice ends.

 

JT Miller is a healthy scratch (Steve Zipay)

Henrik Lundqvist is net and the defense remains the same with Michael Del Zotto and Justin Falk out of the lineup.

Ryan Callahan will return to the Rangers lineup tonight against the Penguins. (Andrew Gross)

 

So MDZ scratched again, like we knew he would be. Talking to his agents. I am sure he is gone now. Just a matter of when, where, and for what exactly.

 

Why do the agents come into play? If they want to trade him they cant stop it.

 

Of course not, but I am sure they want to know WTF is up with the Rangers and their client. Plus a lot of time agents get involved to help facilitate something. Not always, but sometimes that happens as well.

We'll see...

 

Don't really like Miller getting the scratch. Why not scratch Dom Moore and have Miller center Boyle and Dorsett just to give the kid minutes? Better than having him in the skybox. Yeah the current 4th line has been somewhat effective but they still can't score a damn goal.

 

Two reasons I think:

1. They like what they have with that 4th line (right or wrong).
2. Miller is not a 4th line guy. They don't think he adds value there.

IMO we get through tomorrow and Miller is back down to get minutes in a top 9 role.

 

Scratching Miller is dumb. The only reason I don't think he's in Hartford is because Sather is planning on moving a forward also with MDZ.

 

For a team that is struggling to score goals we need all the offense we can get and that 4th line as currently constructed has none of it. How many goals have they combined for? I'm guessing 4 all season. Pouliot could play the 4th while staying on the PP, no reason Miller has to come out.

 

I think the only reason he is not in Hartford is they weren't sure Cally was going to play tonight. He will be back down by Monday. Not saying they wouldn't deal him, but I don't think that is why he's up still.

 

Miller has 2 goals and 3 points. Pouliot has been their 2nd best forward recently. I am fine with pulling Miller. He will be down by Monday assuming no injuries.

 

Miller has also looked 100x better than Dom freaking Moore who continues to impress me with his uselessness.

 

Dom Moore stinks, no debate there. But for a 4th line role I don't think they want to use Miller. He needs to play more than that and is better suited for a top 9 spot. That's the thinking I believe.

Miller isn't anything special scoring wise now anyway, so I don't see it as a huge issue. 3 points for Miller. 4 points for Moore. Both struggle to score (right now for Miller).

 

Maybe they can trade something like DZ, 2nd, prospect for Michalek and Wiercoch.

 

One or two Hartford games maybe...no biggie IMO. If he is up here past tomorrow night, I would agree with you guys 1000%. He will be in Hartford by Sunday or Monday the latest. Not too concerned about him watching one or two games from upstairs. I think we are going a little overboard on that. If they keep him up here past tomorrow night, then I will be angry as well.

 

Let's face it. Edmonton needs to remove their head from their ass and make some deals. Same with Detroit. Those seem to be the two best places for MDZ.

 

The Pack have the same schedule as the Rangers this weekend, tonight and tomorrow night. They are then off until next weekend. So maybe he watches two games up here, just to be sure everyone/Cally is healthy, and then heads down. No issues with that.

Would I put him in over D. Moore...maybe I would, but honestly I don't see it as a big deal. So he misses 10 minutes or so of play tonight, I'll live. If they get dumb and keep him up here moving forward, yeah then I have a bigger issue.

 

DZ has played better of late, which isn't saying much because he still gives no offense which is his thing. But Allen needs time so I think that's hurting him too.