Another Pro Scouting Failure: Ottawa Senators Waive Michael Del Zotto
Yet again, another instance when the Senators pro scouting has failed them
There were obvious concerns when the Senators inked Michael Del Zotto to a two-year, $4 million contract during the NHL’s free-agent period: a 31-year-old defenceman who had signed a PTO to join the Columbus Blue Jackets the year prior and produced middling results on the season. The skeptics were obviously right, as the veteran defenceman has already hit the waiver wire.
Whoever’s idea it was to dish out $4 million to a journeyman defenceman who struggles with pace and defending, on a team that needs help defending, needs to be on an even shorter leash.
It was never clear exactly what role Del Zotto was going to play in the lineup, originally it was thought that he would form a “shutdown” pairing alongside Nikita Zaitsev (lol).
Interesting news here; Chabot starts with Zub and Zaitsev with Del Zotto on the 'shutdown' pair https://t.co/L1YCVAsfMd
— John Rodenburg (@TSNJR) September 11, 2021
While that idea was doomed from the start, thankfully that iteration of the Senators’ defence wouldn’t stay the same for long, Del Zotto was a scratch for the season opener. The veteran defenceman suited up in less than half of the Senators games, and couldn’t find a consistent spot in the lineup. Del Zotto’s playstyle never seemed to line up with the way that D.J. Smith likes his defencemen to play, which is truly confusing since he is the same player he was last season.
Del Zotto’s level of play was never egregious, and he rarely looked like the worst defenceman when he was in the lineup, he actually looked more capable than both Victor Mete and Josh Brown, but with a $2 million cap hit, sitting in the press box isn’t good for either side. Suiting up in 10 games for Ottawa, Del Zotto had solid production, collecting 2 goals and 6 points. The former Oshawa General was understandably frustrated with his position on the team, and reports yesterday hinted to today’s happenings:
Signing a player to a two-year contract and placing them on waivers before Christmas on the first year of the contract is a bad look for the organization, in order for this team to eventually reach its full potential it will need help in the pro scouting department.