some straws feel grasped at
- -davies-

Isn't it cute?

I think it's a bit concerning that TWO teams seemed so willing to get rid of him for very little or nothing at all.
- PhillySportsGuy

One of those teams was Nashville which is currently paying out a poison pill contract to some guy named Shey Wembley or something like that.

unreal

the rumor was he likes to party
- vejim

I'm willing to give him a chance. I like the signing. I just don't have the same feeling I had about Mason. I felt Mason had turned the corner and just needed a change of scenery.

unreal
- Winning

is Giroux grabbing his butt?

Isn't it cute?
- Giroux_Is_God

nope i heard the straws are pressing charges for being groped

unreal
- Winning

ugh i didn't want to see this

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 16s

$1.3 mil for Del Zotto in Philly.
- wilsonecho91

Great signing!

unreal
- Winning

(frank) this. I hope this isn't how he goes out. Between this and Pronger...what the (frank). Not to mention Lindros, Foppa, Ashbee, Primeau etc No one gets the "luck" this franchise does in all of sports. No one.

indeed but at this point i an okay with taking the risk
- -davies-

He's worth the risk. Not sure what other opportunities he'll have in the NHL if he can't make things happen this year.

ugh i didn't want to see this
- -davies-

this is like richards and carter trades all over again

Is it possible that MDZ is getting a bad rap beyond what his play merits? I mean is he really that bad?
- Doc_Sarcasm

He put up 44 points (or was it 41) the year before the lockout. Then he put up 20some points in the shortened season. Last year he looked flat out bad on the stat sheet. He's still quite young and he still needs work in his own end but I think he'll pan out into something decent if not better.

I think the bad rap partly stems from huge expectations after that 40+ point season. At 1.3mil it will be hard to complain about the guy, unless he totally implodes or something.

Great signing!
- AGalchenyuk27

Agreed

nope i heard the straws are pressing charges for being groped
- -davies-

I think it's a bit concerning that TWO teams seemed so willing to get rid of him for very little or nothing at all.
- PhillySportsGuy

Michael Del Zotto managed to be brought up and survive one John Tortorella. As much of a Jack Ass he might be, he's a very good coach and you're gonna be play his way. Torts scratched Brad Richards in a very important Game 7 just over a year ago now that may have cost him his job. Stupid move but bold movie. Again, the point is Del Zotto survived him doing something right. I believe somewhere is the Road to the Winter Classic HBO special of 2012, I believe Torts specifically handed Del Zotto credit for being his best defenseman for a game when they were going over game film.

Now, I'm not calling Michael Del Zotto that next Kimmo Timonen but I didn't hear much complaining against Del Zotto until he wasn't playing for Tortorella anymore. He played for Alain Vigneault and the played for Barry Trotz who ended up losing his job anyway.

He's worth the risk. Not sure what other opportunities he'll have in the NHL if he can't make things happen this year.
- PhillySportsGuy

You can only point to seven d-men 24 or younger that have more points than Del Zotto (126) over the last five seasons.

Just sayin'.

You can only point to seven d-men 24 or younger that have more points than Del Zotto (126) over the last five seasons.

Just sayin'.
- 77rams

I just hope he has 5 point games against the Rangers

I'm willing to give him a chance. I like the signing. I just don't have the same feeling I had about Mason. I felt Mason had turned the corner and just needed a change of scenery.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't like the signing as much as the acquisition of Mason -- which I did like -- because Del Zotto has struggled so much in his own zone, and while he can skate and move the puck, I think the Flyers have to be airtight defensively most nights. Timonen was in decline physically due to age and mileage, but his reads were correct and he played the system properly. That mitigated some of that decline.

We just need someone to play the system properly, not hang their partner out to dry. Just be...consistent in his zone. The problem with Del Zotto is that he hasn't been doing that. But maybe he will, and that has to be the hope.

Cheap, one year deal to roll the dice on a former 40 point defenseman? Sure. Good deal for both Flyers & Del Zotto.

You can only point to seven d-men 24 or younger that have more points than Del Zotto (126) over the last five seasons.

Just sayin'.
- 77rams

I have no doubt he can score. At the very least, he will have the drive to play well against the Rags.

I'm just not a fan of one dimensional players. I feel they have limited upside.

This is a good signing. It's low risk and fills a need. I'm just not as excited as others. I will be happy if things turn out well and eat crow if he becomes a consistent, top 4 player.

So the highlights since the season ended are the Capt grabbing a cops ass, and blood clots. Totally awesome! Beats landing a stud free agent or improving the team via trade.
- PLindbergh31

Don't forget Duclair a Rangers prospect goes end to end dangling and scoring by himself while Morin just took a hooking penalty in front of his net!

I just hope he has 5 point games against the Rangers
- vejim

oh hell yes plz

Don't forget Duclair a Rangers prospect goes end to end dangling and scoring by himself while Morin just took a hooking penalty in front of his net!
- Just5

you two should get married

I don't like the signing as much as the acquisition of Mason -- which I did like -- because Del Zotto has struggled so much in his own zone, and while he can skate and move the puck, I think the Flyers have to be airtight defensively most nights. Timonen was in decline physically due to age and mileage, but his reads were correct and he played the system properly. That mitigated some of that decline.

We just need someone to play the system properly, not hang their partner out to dry. Just be...consistent in his zone. The problem with Del Zotto is that he hasn't been doing that. But maybe he will, and that has to be the hope.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm in the same boat as you. The signing is a good one because the reward outweighs the risk. I'm just not sure MDZ is going to help this team. Maybe he scores some points and the team unloads him at TDL for a 3rd like they did with Mez.

Don't forget Duclair a Rangers prospect goes end to end dangling and scoring by himself while Morin just took a hooking penalty in front of his net!
- Just5

I saw that