Michael Del Zotto
An offensively-gifted Canadian defenseman whose promising NHL start evolved into a resilient journeyman career culminating in a Stanley Cup.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: June 24·Millennials
Biography
Michael Del Zotto entered the NHL with the flash and promise of a new-age defenseman. Drafted in the first round by the New York Rangers, his rookie season was a revelation; he quarterbacked the power play with poise, racking up points and showcasing a vision that belied his age. For a moment, he looked like the Rangers' offensive blue-line cornerstone. Yet, the NHL is a league of adjustments, and Del Zotto's game faced scrutiny as defensive responsibilities grew. What followed was not a story of stardom, but of professional perseverance. He became a hockey nomad, lacing up his skates for nine different franchises over his 13-year career. Each stop—from Nashville to Philadelphia, Vancouver to Anaheim—was a new chapter in adaptation. His resilience was finally rewarded in St. Louis, where, in a depth role during the 2019 playoffs, he contributed to the Blues' unforgettable first Stanley Cup championship, providing a perfect career milestone for a player who saw the league from nearly every possible locker room.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Michael was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Michael Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Michael's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 37 points (9 goals, 28 assists) in his NHL rookie season with the New York Rangers in 2009-10.
- Won the Stanley Cup in 2019 as a member of the St. Louis Blues.
- Represented Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in 2009.
Did You Know?
He was a talented baseball player as a youth and was drafted by the MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.
Del Zotto is known for being a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise.
He was teammates with John Tavares both in junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals and with the New York Rangers.
“I learned the hard way that talent is nothing without daily consistency.”
