Does John Moore's Skill Set Make Michael Del Zotto Expendable?

Michael Del Zotto's name has been attached to trade rumors this month, and there is reason to believe that the New York Rangers would deal him.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reported that there was a report on TSN that a deal could be made between the Ottawa Senators and the Rangers, but Glen Sather wasn't happy with what Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray was offering.

Del Zotto is an offensive-defenseman that has had a rough start to the season, and he has been a healthy scratch for a number of games this season. There are mixed opinions when it comes to the prospect of dealing Del Zotto, but does the skill set of fellow Blueshirt John Moore make No. 4 expendable?

The short answer is no, although the two defenders are very similar in nature. Both are talented offensive defenders, but Moore is the better defender of the two. However, it is known that Del Zotto's strengths lie in his offense, and for that reason, Moore doesn't make him expendable.

The Hockey News profiled each player, and the descriptions are pretty similar.  

Moore has been described as a defender that "has a good frame to grow into, and owns exceptional skating ability. Can play an offensive role and likes to be on the attack. Can fire the puck and eventually quarterback a power play. His speed is also very useful on defense."

Del Zotto, on the other hand, has been described as a defender that "skates very well, both up and down the ice as well as laterally. Understands the power-play dynamic and is good at making plays as the quarterback. Oozes offensive upside."

When going off these descriptions, it seems like a dead heat. However, stats tell a different story.

While Moore is a talented blueliner with tremendous upside, he is not as proven as Del Zotto, and for that reason, his potential can't be cited as a reason in favor of dealing Del Zotto. 

The stats don't lie, and to see how they match up, here is a tale of the tape.

Player	Age	Size	Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	PPG
John Moore	23	6'3", 202 lbs.	124	5	14	19	0.15
Michael Del Zotto	23	6'0". 195 lbs.	269	25	89	114	0.42

The numbers here are pretty clear. Both are the same age, but Del Zotto has more experience than Moore. He also has out-produced him in almost every way, and to this point, he has been a better offensive defenseman. 

While Moore may become a great offensive defender, there was a reason he was dealt by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was given an opportunity to show his potential, but he did not impress. Del Zotto, on the other hand, has had a few impressive seasons to date, and he is capable of more.

Defenders develop slower than forwards, and if anything, Del Zotto deserves more time than Moore. He has a record of production, unlike Moore. While Moore may be the more complete all-around defender, he has done nothing to suggest that he can replace the offense Del Zotto brings to the lineup.

This year, neither have done a good job providing offense, but at least Del Zotto has a history that can suggest that this year has simply been an anomaly. In an ideal world, the Rangers should keep both—because they are young.

Having a young blue line is never a bad thing, and Moore and MDZ could be a great pairing once both are fully developed. 

If the Rangers decided to deal Del Zotto, having Moore would be nice, but adding an equal defender would need to be a necessity. There is no reason why Moore can't have a successful NHL career, but there is nothing to suggest that he is going to be a consistent 40-point defender.

In his three full seasons, Del Zotto has been on pace for 35 points or more, and he is still only 23 years old. Once he comes into his own and is fully developed, he should be able to hit the 50-point plateau on a consistent basis. 

He is struggling right now, but then again, so was Steven Stamkos back in 2009. While no one is comparing the two former teammates, it is an example that some players go through rough patches before getting better.

In reality, there is a good chance that Del Zotto could get trade. There is an equal chance that he will develop into a very good defender that is one of the league's best offensively. If the Rangers decide to deal him, it is fine, but citing John Moore's potential better not be one of the biggest reasons in favor of making the trade.