Del Zotto to Play in Swiss League The signing was announced on the Web site of the Swiss club, currently fifth in the 12-team league and also the lockout home of Ottawa forward Jason Spezza. Del Zotto left for Switzerland from Toronto Wednesday, his agent, Mark Guy, said. Del Zotto, 22, becomes the fourth Ranger to head overseas during the N.H.L. lockout, after Rick Nash (HC Davos in the Swiss N.L.A.), Ryan McDonagh (Barys Astana of the K.H.L.) and Carl Hagelin (Sodertalje SK of the Swedish Allsvenskan). Del Zotto is coming off an excellent third N.H.L. season in which he scored 10 goals and 41 points and registered a plus-20 mark in the Rangers' second defense pairing. But he is a restricted free agent, after failing to come to terms with the Rangers on a contract renewal last summer. General Manager Glen Sather said in September that Del Zotto would "come to his senses" and meet the Rangers' offer to sign a new contract. However, no deal was reached by Sept. 15, when Commissioner Gary Bettman locked out the players and shut down all N.H.L. business. In an interview with the Canadian network Sportsnet Wednesday, Del Zotto said he signed with Rapperswil-Jona because it was "depressing" to stay in Toronto and work out by himself. Del Zotto said he had been reluctant to go overseas because his status with the Rangers is unclear, but "it's gotten to the point now where I need to play," especially with no end to the lockout in sight. "It just doesn't look like we have a willing negotiating partner right now, and that's frustrating," he said. Guy said Del Zotto's signing with Rapperswil-Jona "has no bearing on his contract situation with New York." He added, "He is simply going to play in order to stay in on ice shape and get game competition during the lockout." Reports in September put Sather's offer to Del Zotto at $2.2 million to $2.5 million per year. But Guy disputed those figures. "I won't get into what the negotiations were at prior to the lockout," Guy said. We never do, but I can tell you that the previous reports of an offer in that range are erroneous. Del Zotto has finished his third and final season of his entry-level contract. That contract was worth $875,000 a year but, with bonuses, could go as high as $1.09 million per year. No details were given on the terms of his deal with Rapperswil-Jona, but Guy said Tuesday that the club would cover Del Zotto's insurance costs.