Michael Del Zotto announces retirement after 14 pro seasons

Former Oshawa Generals and London Knights defenceman Michael Del Zotto announced his retirement on Wednesday via his personal Instagram account, hanging up the skates after a 14-year professional career.

Del Zotto, 33, played in a total of 736 career regular season NHL contests between 2009-22, putting up 262 points (63-199–262). He spent the 2022-23 season in the American Hockey League, recording 41 points (8-33–41) over 65 games between the Charlotte Checkers and San Diego Gulls.

The Stouffville, Ont. native raised the Stanley Cup as a member of the St. Louis Blues in 2019, highlighting an NHL career that began as the 20th overall pick by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Draft.

Del Zotto was a star in the OHL, coming in as the second overall pick of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection after starring on an OHL Cup champion Markham Waxers team that also featured the likes of first overall pick Steven Stamkos and other eventual OHL players in Cameron Gaunce, Matthew Tipoff, Jamie Doornbosch and Kelly Geoffrey. He was named to the OHL’s first all-rookie team in 2006-07, leading first-year defenders with 57 points (10-47–57) in 64 games. Del Zotto would go on to record 183 points (39-144–183) over 190 OHL regular season games, being dealt to the London Knights midway through his final season alongside John Tavares in a deal that saw the Generals acquire forward Christian Thomas, defenceman Scott Valentine and goaltender Michael Zador.

Del Zotto was named to the NHL’s all-rookie team in 2009-10, finishing his first season in New York with 37 points (9-28–37). He helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2012 before they fell in six games to the New Jersey Devils.

In all, Del Zotto suited up for eight different NHL teams over his 14-year career. The OHL congratulates Michael on his retirement, and wishes him the very best in the next chapter of his life.

After 736 games in the NHL, @MichaelDelZotto's hanging them up. 👏

We wish you the best of luck in retirement! pic.twitter.com/NgMSuTiKOQ

— NHL (@NHL) September 6, 2023