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Michael Del Zotto Scratched a Week Before the Deadline

By Danny Povlich

Dec 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto (15) skates with the puck past Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto (15) skates with the puck past Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia Flyers scratched Michael Del Zotto before their game against the Capitals on February 22—one week before the trade deadline.

If the Flyers are going to be sellers this year, Del Zotto seems a likely candidate to be traded. And he knows it.

"“It happens every year,” Del Zotto said Tuesday. “It’s not like it’s the first time. I’ve been traded before. It is what it is. It’s a business. You realize that pretty early in your career. I understand where I’m at as far as my contract, being a UFA this summer.” (Tim Panaccio)"

And given Hextall’s philosophy, the Flyers would presumably want a draft pick in return. But how motivated is Hextall to move him?

Promising Prospects

Much talk has been made of the Flyers’ defensive prospects. TSN’s Bob McKenzie thinks that at least two of them are just about ready for the big leagues.

During NBCSN’s January 26 broadcast of the Flyers–Maple Leafs game, he said that “Hagg is probably NHL-ready now.”

And after seeing Philippe Myers in the World Junior Championship, McKenzie thought the same of him as well:

Return on Investment

And Michael Del Zotto is still relatively young. At 26, he could be more than just a rental for a team trying to find that missing piece. Streit, another upcoming free agent, could do well in that role, but his age will prevent the Flyers from getting anything significant in return.

Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers /

Philadelphia Flyers

Given the Flyers’ offensive problems, they might welcome the chance to free up some cap space by replacing Del Zotto’s contract with a rookie’s. They could use it to improve their scoring depth. (And something tells me that the Flyers won’t be able to convince anyone to take on MacDonald’s $5 million cap hit.)

No one wants to see their team give away assets for nothing, though. So what might the Flyers expect in return? After all, this wouldn’t be the first time that Michael Del Zotto was benched for poor defensive play.

Last year, Edmonton traded Justin Schultz during the worst season of his young career for a third-rounder.

Is that too much to expect for Del Zotto? Is trading him for anything less worth it?

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