When the Nashville Predators traded Mattias Ekholm and lost Roman Josi and Alexandre Carrier to injury late last season, the front office called up defensemen Jordan Gross, Kevin Gravel, Roland McKeown, and Spencer Stastney at different times from the Milwaukee Admirals to fill out the blue line. One defenseman who didn't get the call from Nashville last season was Marc Del Gaizo, and he hasn't forgotten.
"Last year I thought I had a good season and didn't get an opportunity. I wasn't one of the guys who got an opportunity," Del Gaizo said at training camp last week.
"I've got a big chip on my shoulder right now."
That chip on his shoulder has been motivating the 23-year-old all offseason, and he returned to the Predators' training camp in September with something to prove.
"I'm trying to prove that I can play at this level and do it every day," Del Gaizo said.
He is making a solid case. On Sunday, the Predators reduced their roster down to 26 players, and while many of last year's teammates headed to Milwaukee for the start of Admirals training camp this week, Del Gaizo remains in Nashville focused on his goal of making the NHL roster.
"First and foremost, I want to make the team," Del Gaizo said when asked what he hoped to get out of training camp this season.
It isn't just the thing a young player is supposed to say. It is what Del Gaizo has set out to do with every practice and preseason opportunity he's had. Del Gaizo has been noticeable in the preseason games even when playing against some of the top talent on the opposing teams. Nashville has also gotten a look at his more offensive side. Del Gaizo added offensive punch from the blue line in the Admirals' deep Calder Cup run scoring four goals and collecting 12 points in 16 games, and he has showcased that part of his game at training camp for new head coach Andrew Brunette.
That isn't to say that Del Gaizo isn't embracing everything he can still learn here in Nashville. The ice time he's had in preseason games and the players he is practicing with regularly are sharpening his game. Del Gaizo doesn't take the opportunity to learn from veterans for granted.
"I'm on the ice with Ryan McDonagh," Del Gaizo said. "I'm from New Jersey and grew up a Rangers fan, so he was one of the guys that I really looked up to when I was younger."
"It's pretty cool to be on the same ice as him and learn what he does and how good he is defensively, just how sound his game is in general. It's really cool and looking forward to playing some more hockey with him."
The Predators still have a few more roster decisions to make before the regular season begins. With the top defensive pairings looking fairly set with Roman Josi and Luke Schenn and Tyson Barrie and Ryan McDonagh on the second pair, there are still NHL experienced players in Alexandre Carrier, Dante Fabbro, and Jeremy Lauzon to round out the blue line.
With two more preseason games on the schedule this week, Del Gaizo's chances to convince Brunette he is ready to supplant a more experienced blue liner are coming down to the wire. His goal of making the opening night roster out of camp will be a challenge, but he has done most everything he can to earn himself the opportunity to be a call up this season.
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