The Rangers are poised to open training camp tomorrow without Michael Del Zotto, the unsigned 22-year-old restricted free agent defenseman who remains in a negotiating stalemate with general manager Glen Sather.
“Michael has until [tomorrow] morning to figure this out, and I sure hope he does so he doesn’t have to miss any time,” Sather told The Post last night. “We’ve made Michael a very good and very fair offer.
“Sitting out is not going to help him in any way.”
The Rangers, confronting a cap squeeze next season, are believed to have offered Del Zotto a two-year contract worth north of $2.4 million per season. The defenseman, who had been looking for a longer-term deal before the lockout, is believed to be seeking approximately $3 million per season for two years.
“There’s only so much you can do with these ‘gap’ contracts,” Sather said, referring to contracts for players coming out of Entry Level. “Michael must have his reasons for doing what he’s doing, but the way the system works, he’s going to have to wait his turn.”
Del Zotto, who has been participating in this week’s informal workouts at the club’s practice rink, led Rangers defensemen in goals, assists and points (10 goals, 31 assists) last season, rebounding from a disappointing 2010-11 in which he was sent to the AHL Whale midway through his sophomore pro season.
“Hopefully something will be done by [tomorrow], but I’m just taking it day to day,” Del Zotto said following yesterday’s skate. “I’m looking for a contract that makes sense both ways and is fair for me and for the Rangers.”
Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh compose the Blueshirts’ first pair on defense. Marc Staal and righty Anton Stralman would be penciled in as the second unit.
Del Zotto, a lefty who moved to the right side to skate with Staal at times late last season and in the playoffs, likely would open on the third tandem, with Steve Eminger, Stu Bickel and Matt Gilroy vying for the spot as opening sixth defenseman.
Under normal conditions, the NHL has a Dec. 1 deadline for Group II free agents to sign or otherwise be declared ineligible for the season. There is no deadline for this 48-game season that begins a week from tonight in Boston. Still, this hardly provides Del Zotto with leverage.
“Listen, we’ve all missed enough time. I don’t want to see anybody miss even a day more,” Sather said. “It’s certainly not going to do Michael any good.
“We want him here. He knows that. We’ve done what we can. It’s up to him.”