Career
He is currently the head coach of the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League. Zettler was drafted 55th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 National Hockey League Entry Draft. After two seasons with the North Stars organization, he was claimed by the San Jose Sharks in the 1991 National Hockey League Dispersal Draft.
On February 1, 1994, the Sharks traded Zettler to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Viacheslav Butsayev.
Philadelphia traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fifth-round pick in the 1996 National Hockey League Entry Draft on July 8, 1995. With Toronto Zettler enjoyed his most productive season in 1996-1997, scoring 2 goals and adding 12 assists for 14 points.
After being left unprotected by the Maple Leafs he was claimed by the Nashville Predators in the 1998 National Hockey League Expansion Draft. On September 7, 1999, Zettler signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals.
Rob Zettler announced his retirement on August 27, 2002, he finished his National Hockey League career with 569 games, scoring 5 goals and 65 assists for 70 points.
He had been an assistant coach under Ron Wilson, but was relieved of his duties after Wilson"s firing. He has also been an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks (under former San Jose and former Toronto head coach Ron Wilson). Zettler also served as colour commentator for Washington Capitals radio broadcasts.
On March 2, 2012, Zettler was again relieved of his position of assistant coach to Ron Wilson in favour of another position within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
In July 2012, Zettler was hired by the Tampa Bay Lightning to be an assistant coach with their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. After the promotion of Jon Cooper on March 25, 2013, Zettler was named the head coach of the Crunch.
