The St. Louis Blues were not pegged to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, and as expected they did not make any blockbuster deals. What the Blues did do, is add depth to an already potent and confident group.
The St. Louis Blues announced Monday afternoon, they traded a 2019 sixth-round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for left-handed defenseman Michael Del Zotto.
Going into the trade deadline St. Louis Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong had stated that he was looking to add more depth to the defensive position. With Carl Gunnarsson being put on IR multiple times this season already and currently injured for the Blues, adding a seventh defenseman makes perfect sense.
Del Zotto is a 28-year-old veteran defenseman of the NHL, he was drafted 20th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Del Zotto recorded 37 points in his rookie year for the Rangers, and his young career looked very promising.
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Unfortunately, Del Zotto only had one season where he had more points than he did in his rookie year with the Rangers and that came in the 2010-2011 season where he recorded 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 total points (a career high).
Del Zotto also had stints with the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.
Injury prone? There have only been two seasons where Del Zotto played 80 games or more. More than likely, even if given a chance, he is not going to be a guy who logs 20 or 25 minutes a night for the Blues.
On the other hand, Del Zotto when he gets his chance for the Blues, should be a solid defender who has the ability to light the lamp when the opportunity arises. He will keep his man to the outside and should fit nicely into the Blues’ defensive strategy.
What this move means is that Gunnarsson is further away from returning than most Blues fans hoped and anticipated. Gunnarsson has been the most solid and consistent defenseman the Blues have had all season when he is healthy.
In my opinion, the Blues have their top 6 defensive pairs set, and Del Zotto will be the odd man in if someone needs a night off or is having a bad stretch of games.
I do not think that anyone around the organization expected the front office to make a big splash during this trade deadline. It does not make sense to trade a Jordan Kyrou or a Klim Kostin type player for a “rental” that might or might not sign with the team long term.
This club has proven they have the talent and should be able to continue the run they have been on for the past month. At least for this year, if there are going to be any big moves made, let’s save them for the offseason.