That's about where I'm at too. Interested to see if Del Zotto would take that deal if offered or if he's ready to gamble on himself next season (similar to a Jeremy Maclin situation).
- five4fighting10

If he takes the 3 year deal, he can give himself security and still have an opportunity at a big pay day when he turns 29

And those players signed contracts knowing full well that management could do so...and they would be making hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars to be "unhappy." My dad is unhappy at work every day for the last 40 years and he makes about $60K a year (which is not the NHL PA's problem). If they didn't want this to be a n option, they shouldn't have allowed it to make it into the CBA. Vinny walking away doesn't change that.
- jmatchett383

I don't disagree with any of that. (Well, I don't know your dad, so I don't disagree with any of that except the part about your dad. I have no comment on that part.)

Flyers hold the leverage here. I'd make Del Zotto prove it next season before getting into a multi year deal with him.
- MJL

the risk is you have him for only one year then, and then he walks

if they see him as a fit going forward (I think he is at least until Sanheim and maybe Ghost are ready anyway) then compromise and give him a 3 year deal and they have to pay for 2 years at ufa $s

If you give him one year and he plays well, he's in the drivers seat as he's headed to ufa coming off two good years.

If you want to lock up a top 4 dman below market value, you have to take a leap of faith. Otherwise you just have to accept that he'll leave or get re-signed at market value
- PhillySportsGuy

Then so be it. You have Sanhiem, Morin, Gostisbehere, and Hagg waiting in the wings.

It's surprising how willing people are to jump into a three or four year deal with Del Zotto considering the cap space that will be needed in the 2016 offseason and all the young defenders we have coming even before the 2015 draft has happened.

And they may also pick Provorov, a guy who some consider NHL-ready.

http://thehockeywriters.c...or-in-the-2015-nhl-draft/

He's not signing that thing... 0%.
- Tomahawk

He won't.... but if they do end up with another one-year (and he becomes a UFA next summer), he's also not going to get all that much of a raise above the qualifying offer.

So Morin's looking at the 2026 season to find a spot?
- jmatchett383

MDZ and Streit are the only top 4 dmen on this roster. Its only a 3 year deal I'm talking about. It helps bridge the gap a bit for the young guys. MDZ can play heavy minutes effectively. Streit is a nice player but he shouldn't be logging over 20 minutes each night.

It's surprising how willing people are to jump into a three or four year deal with Del Zotto considering the cap space that will be needed in the 2016 offseason and all the young defenders we have coming even before the 2015 draft has happened.

And what if they pick Provorov, a guy who some consider NHL-ready?

http://thehockeywriters.c...or-in-the-2015-nhl-draft/
- Feanor

I think 2 years is ideal, and 3 is very doable

4 is where I get nervous a bit

thinking sanheim and ghost are ready to go next year would be a colossal mistake

Flyers hold the leverage here. I'd make Del Zotto prove it next season before getting into a multi year deal with him.
- MJL

I agree. Let him go to arbitration. At the max give him 2 years. But with this sample size and d prospects I'm not doing anything more than 2 years.

Then so be it. You have Sanhiem, Morin, Gostisbehere, and Hagg waiting in the wings.
- MBFlyerfan

They won't be ready to take on that burden by next season. MDZ is a minutes eater. He plays effectively for 22-26 minutes every night.

I think 2 years is ideal, and 3 is very doable

4 is where I get nervous a bit

thinking sanheim and ghost are ready to go next year would be a colossal mistake
- Marc D

3 years is a deal breaker. Give him the money he wants or close to it for 2 years. Do not give in on term

MDZ and Streit are the only top 4 dmen on this roster. Its only a 3 year deal I'm talking about. It helps bridge the gap a bit for the young guys. MDZ can play heavy minutes effectively. Streit is a nice player but he shouldn't be logging over 20 minutes each night.
- PhillySportsGuy

So glad they one-trick ponies like MDZ and a guy who had a good first 50 games in Schultz will help clog up the blue line alone with Streit, AMac, Gudas, and (likely) one or both of Schenn/Grossmann to make sure none of our young defenders can make the team out of camp next year.

I agree. Let him go to arbitration. At the max give him 2 years. But with this sample size and d prospects I'm not doing anything more than 2 years.
- Just5

why?

he is coming into his prime years

the prospects may not all pan out

he provides a skill set they need

3 years at his age would be great

It's surprising how willing people are to jump into a three or four year deal with Del Zotto considering the cap space that will be needed in the 2016 offseason and all the young defenders we have coming even before the 2015 draft has happened.

And they may also pick Provorov, a guy who some consider NHL-ready.

http://thehockeywriters.c...or-in-the-2015-nhl-draft/
- Feanor

He's a productive young top-4 defender about to enter his prime.

As much as we all like the kids, and as much as some of us like Provorov, MDZ's a bird in hand that fits that immediate description.

If he takes the 3 year deal, he can give himself security and still have an opportunity at a big pay day when he turns 29
- PhillySportsGuy

Definitely makes sense to me. And MDZ is saying all of the right things about wanting a fair deal for both sides and how much he loves the team.

So glad they one-trick ponies like MDZ and a guy who had a good first 50 games in Schultz will help clog up the blue line alone with Streit, AMac, Gudas, and (likely) one or both of Schenn/Grossmann to make sure none of our young defenders can make the team out of camp next year.
- jmatchett383

this is a bit harsh

They won't be ready to take on that burden by next season. MDZ is a minutes eater. He plays effectively for 22-26 minutes every night.
- PhillySportsGuy

But we arent talking about next season. We are talking about the season after.


edit: I have no doubt if he is playing well on the one year deal the Flyers extend him mid season. That is how they operate. And I think MDZ signs if that is how it plays out.

They won't be ready to take on that burden by next season. MDZ is a minutes eater. He plays effectively for 22-26 minutes every night.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't see how 3 years is bad. As long as there is no NTC or NMC if guys are ready to take his spot by year three you can move him. He has a skill set that is desirable in the NHL nowadays.

this is a bit harsh
- Marc D

Schultz' game took a nose dive after the TDL, and MDZ is suspect at best one of the defensive side of the puck.

The defensive ability of his partners took a nosedive after Coburn was traded.

I think 2 years is ideal, and 3 is very doable

4 is where I get nervous a bit

thinking sanheim and ghost are ready to go next year would be a colossal mistake
- Marc D

I don't think they'll be ready next year, but they should be ready for 16-17. Ghost will be 23 and Sanheim is a superior prospect. This is why I agree with the idea of giving Del Zotto a big raise but only a 1 year deal, or 2 years at $3m.

He's a productive young top-4 defender about to enter his prime.

As much as we all like the kids, and as much as some of us like Provorov, MDZ's a bird in hand that fits that immediate description.
- Tomahawk

+1, compleat agreement with you here

If you give him one year and he plays well, he's in the drivers seat as he's headed to ufa coming off two good years.

If you want to lock up a top 4 dman below market value, you have to take a leap of faith. Otherwise you just have to accept that he'll leave or get re-signed at market value
- PhillySportsGuy

This is the truth -- I don't know why people want to fight, here.

This isn't anything that we haven't seen before. The guy doesn't have to do another "prove it" year -- he just did one!

Since January 8, does anybody want to guess how many times Del Zotto played fewer than 20 minutes? That would be once.

The least he has played since Feb. 17 was 21:48 -- he was on the PK and the PP.

What do people think this guy has been doing for the Flyers? He played 30 minutes two weeks ago!

You are going to pay this guy

I don't think they'll be ready next year, but they should be ready for 16-17. Ghost will be 23 and Sanheim is a superior prospect. This is why I agree with the idea of giving Del Zotto a big raise but only a 1 year deal, or 2 years at $3m.
- Feanor

We should give MDZ 4 years so that Ghost spends his entire career in the AL where he belongs. Why would we ever want to have a home-grown defenseman at low cost on our NHL roster when we can keep paying other teams' picks?

Schultz' game took a nose dive after the TDL, and MDZ is suspect at best one of the defensive side of the puck.
- jmatchett383

schultz was playing 1st pair type minute with streit at 5 v 5

of course his play tailed off

but he was one of their most reliable guys at a bargain price and also fills a stop gap need for viable NHL D men while the prospects mature

This is the truth -- I don't know why people want to fight, here.

This isn't anything that we haven't seen before. The guy doesn't have to do another "prove it" year -- he just did one!

Since January 8, does anybody want to guess how many times Del Zotto played fewer than 20 minutes? That would be once.

The least he has played since Feb. 17 was 21:48 -- he was on the PK and the PP.

What do people think this guy has been doing for the Flyers? He played 30 minutes two weeks ago!

You are going to pay this guy
- AllInForFlyers

Truly, he is a late-blooming Shea Weber.