Maybe Isles should trade for Michael Del Zotto
The Islanders are in trouble on defense — bigger trouble now that Thomas Hickey, one of the few remaining reliable defensemen, is likely out.
The Rangers need to make a change and want Michael Del Zotto to be the one moving out.
Here is a not-so-modest, but sensible, proposal: A real trade between the Isles and Rangers.
Garth Snow has been working the phones to find a defenseman who a) is more than just a spare part; and b) won’t cost him a prime player or prospect. That’s a tall order — see how many teams need top-four defensemen and how many deals have been made for one so far this season.
The answer is zero, at least since the season began.
So players like Del Zotto aren’t available much. He’s struggled now under two Rangers coaches and needs a change of scenery. His contract expires at the end of the season and is a reasonable $2.55 million; it isn’t bound to go up much considering what he’s done this season and last.
He can skate, he’s a power-play guy, he fits with what the Islanders want to do and, perhaps a big factor, he’s very tight with John Tavares — they played three seasons of junior hockey together.
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