Veteran NHL defenceman Michael Del Zotto, who is currently an unrestricted free agent, has signed a professional try-out contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets and will attend the club's training camp which begins on January 3rd. The PTO means he will have to prove he should get a contract with the team by the end of training camp. If not, Del Zotto returns to being a UFA.
NEWS: #CBJ sign D Michael Del Zotto to a pro tryout contract. The 30-yr-old has 56-180-236, 272 PIM in 657 games w/ NYR, NSH, PHI, VAN, STL and ANA in 11 NHL seasons. The 6-0, 195 native of Stouffville, ON tallied 2-13-15, 14 PIM and was +5 in 49 GP with Ducks in 2019-20. pic.twitter.com/AAoP8CXRlt— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) December 25, 2020
The 30-year-old was drafted in the first round (20th overall) by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. In parts of 12 NHL seasons, he has played for the Rangers, Nashville, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Anaheim (two stints), and St. Louis.
In 657 regular season games, Del Zotto has tallied 236 points (56 G, 180 A), 272 penalty minutes, and is a -31. In 32 playoff games, he's recorded 12 points (3 G, 9 A), 20 penalty minutes, and is a -7. He won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues during the 2018-19 season.
Internationally, Del Zotto has represented Canada on a couple occasions, most recently at the 2010 IIHF World Hockey Championships. In 5 games, he went pointless, with 0 penalty minutes, and was a +1 as Canada finished seventh following a loss to Russia in the quarterfinals.
