The Vancouver Canucks have agreed to a contract with unrestricted free agent defenceman Michael Del Zotto. His new contract with the Canucks will earn him $6 million and keep him in Vancouver for two years. Del Zotto spent last season with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sam Gagner, Michael Del Zotto and G Anders Nilsson to VAN.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Michael Del Zotto's terms in VAN: 2 x $3M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Michael Del Zotto Signs with the Vancouver Canucks
Del Zotto will add a puck moving element to the Canucks blue line. He scored six goals and added 18 points in 51 games last season. He has played eight NHL seasons with the New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, and Philadelphia Flyers. In 484 career games, Del Zotto has 47 goals and 142 assists for 189 career points. He has added thre goals and 12 points in 39 career playoff games.
The 27-year-old has had injury issues for the majority of his career, last playing a full season back in 2011-12 as a member of the New York Rangers. The Rangers drafted Del Zotto 20th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and he made his NHL debut the following season.
In his rookie campaign he tallied 37 points in 80 games and looked to be a key part of the Rangers defence for many seasons to come. However, a drastic drop in point productivity lead to him being dealt to the Nashville Predators at the 2014 trade deadline.
He signed a two-year, $7.75 million deal with Philadelphia back in 2015, making him an unrestricted free agent this off-season. The deal was a smart move by the Flyers after he had a 32-point campaign in 64 games with them in his first season on the team.
With the emergence of Shayne Gostisbehere and rookie Ivan Provorov, allowing Del Zotto to leave as a free agent became an easier decision for the Flyers front office. An expiring contract on a player that has had his share of injuries, the writing was on the wall that his days in Philly were numbered.
Main Photo:
