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Del Zotto eager to ‘prove everybody who’s doubted me wrong’

Nashville Predators v Edmonton Oilers

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 18: Michael Del Zotto #5 of the Nashville Predators in action against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Rexall Place on March 18, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

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There’s no doubt it’s been a rough year for Michael Del Zotto.

He wound up in Alain Vigneault’s doghouse with the New York Rangers and was traded to Nashville where he wound up being “not a fit” with the Predators according to GM David Poile.

Now we’re almost three weeks into free agency and Del Zotto has yet to land with a team. That’s serving only to be a motivation for the 24-year-old defenseman as Luke Fox of Sportsnet shared.

“I’m just waiting for the right opportunity to prove myself again,” Del Zotto says, “and prove everybody who’s doubted me wrong.”

Del Zotto said he’s been speaking to “a bunch” of teams lately and he’s eager to show his offensive game can be a valuable asset to whatever team wants him.

The offensive game is fine, but it’s the defensive side of things that he’ll have to show aren’t an issue. Going back to his time playing for John Tortorella in New York, that was one of the issues that had to be figured out. At his age it’s not as if he’s a lost cause, but with how things have gone in the past year, including Barry Trotz saying his game has “slipped”, he’s proving to be a hard sell.

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