July 16, 2015
On Thursday, hours after announcing that they had signed center Travis Konecny, their second of two first-round picks, to an entry-level contract, the Flyers inked defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a new multi-year extension, thus avoiding arbitration.
According to Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post, the deal is for two years and $7.75 million, with an average cap hit of $3.875 million.
Source says Del Zotto is two-year deal. $3.75M and $4M
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) July 16, 2015
Del Zotto, 25, tied a career-high with 10 goals last season -- four of which were game winners -- to go along with 22 assists in 64 games last season. He finished the season ranked first among Flyers defenseman in goals scored and second in total points (32, his most since 2011-12 with the Rangers).
Originally drafted by the Rangers in the first round (20th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft, the Ontario native spent five and a half seasons in New York before being traded to Nashville in 2014. After finishing the season with the Predators, who didn't extend him a qualifying offer, Del Zotto signed with the Flyers in August of last year as an unrestricted free agent.
The signing, according to Isaac, leaves the Flyers $235,000 under the cap.
But they're also left with eight defensemen on one-way deals, meaning someone's likely going to be moved prior to the season. Further complicating their blue-line situation is the fact that Ivan Provorov, their top pick in the 2015 Draft, and 2013 picks Sam Morin and Shayne Gostisbehere could be called up to the big club at some point this season.
The Flyers will open training camp on September 17 in Vorhees, N.J., and now fans can be sure that a very happy Del Zotto will in attendance.
Couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of the flyers organization for another 2 years. #flyguys https://t.co/JtwkZVKWwJ
— Michael Del Zotto (@MichaelDelZotto) July 16, 2015
Earlier in the day, the Flyers announced the signing of 24th-overall pick Travis Konecny to an entry-level deal.
Konecny, just 18, was named captain of the OHL's Ottawa 67s prior to last season and recorded 68 points (29 goals, 39 assists) in 60 games.
The 2013-14 OHL Rookie of the Year -- he led all rookies in goals (26) and points (70) -- has 138 points (55 goals, 83 assists) in 123 career games for Ottawa. Konecny also recorded 10 points in his five postseason games for the 67s, all of which came in 2015.
The London, Ontario native isn't expected to make the Flyers roster out of camp, and likely won't be called up until sometime next year.
