Rangers Trade Del Zotto to Predators Michael Del Zotto had fallen out of favor with the Rangers' coaches recently. The Rangers traded defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who was once considered one of their most promising prospects, to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday for defenseman Kevin Klein. Del Zotto, 23, made the Rangers" roster as a 19-year-old on opening night of the 2009-10 season, becoming the youngest defenseman to open a season for the club. He went on to be chosen the N.H.L.'s rookie of the month and finished the season with 9 goals and 37 points. But in subsequent seasons the benefits of his excellent skating and passing skills were often outweighed by defensive lapses, and he never quite fulfilled the promise of his rookie campaign. Coach John Tortorella often counseled observers to be patient with a young player learning a difficult position, but after Alain Vigneault took over as coach this season, Del Zotto fell out of favor and was consigned to the press box several times as a healthy scratch. "Michael had some great seasons for us and some interesting seasons," said Glen Sather, the Rangers" general manager. He worked hard. It just didn't work out. This season Del Zotto had 2 goals, 11 points and a minus-5 mark in 42 games. He finished his 292-game Rangers career with 26 goals, 121 points and a minus-4 mark. He also had 3 goals and 12 points in 32 playoff games. In Klein, the Rangers pick up a 29-year-old blueliner with a more defensive orientation. Like Del Zotto, he takes few penalties. Significantly, Klein becomes the third right-handed shot in the Rangers" defensive corps, replacing the left-handed Del Zotto. That provides more balance to the team's blue line, which now has four lefties and three righties. The left-handed Justin Falk sits out most nights. "Absolutely having three right-handers and three left-handers on defense is a plus now for us," Sather said. "Klein will fit into our system well -- he should have no trouble," he said. Klein has skated with two of his new Rangers teammates before, playing alongside forward Ryan Callahan and defenseman Dan Girardi on the 2004 Ontario Hockey League champion Guelph Storm. Klein had 1 goal, 4 points and a minus-11 mark in 47 games with the Predators this season. In nine seasons and 403 games with Nashville, he scored 16 goals and 82 points while compiling a minus-25 mark. In 28 playoff games, he scored 3 goals and 9 points. "Michael gives us another young, gifted left-handedshooting defenseman with significant offensive upside," Predators General Manager David Poile said in a statement. We look forward to his presence on our already talented young blue line, further balancing our defensive corps. Klein is in the first year of a five-year contract worth $2.9 million per season against the salary cap. Del Zotto is scheduled to be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. His contract is worth $2.55 million per season against the cap.