Journeyman defenceman Michael Del Zotto has signed with the Ottawa Senators on a two-year deal worth $4 million with an AAV of $2 million.
The #Sens have agreed to terms with defenceman Michael Del Zotto on a two-year contract.
The contract carries a $2 million AAV ($1.75 million in 2021-22, $2.25 million in 2022-23). pic.twitter.com/bFD7PMEdBl
— Sens Communications (@Media_Sens) July 28, 2021
Michael Del Zotto Lands with Ottawa Senators
Michael Del Zotto has been everywhere through his 12 years in the NHL. Ottawa will be his seventh team since being drafted by the New York Rangers 20th overall in the 2008 draft. Del Zotto burst onto the scene in 2009-10 scoring 37 points in 80 games with the Rangers, earning him an All-star rookie spot. His career year came in 2011-12 where he scored 10 goals and 31 assists in 77 games. It was the only season in which he scored more than 40 points.
In 2014, Del Zotto was traded to the Nashville Predators where he finished the season. He signed with the Philadelphia Flyers that offseason to a one-year deal, earning a two-year extension right after. Del Zotto then signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2017. After two years, he was shipped to the Anaheim Ducks in 2019, who then sent him to the St. Louis Blues. However, Del Zotto only played in seven regular-season games with the Blues and didn’t suit up in the playoffs, making him ineligible for a Stanley Cup ring. The D-man then signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets for two seasons before now landing in Ottawa.
Through all that movement, Del Zotto has played 710 NHL games, scoring 249 points.
What This means for the Senators
Someone with the experience of Del Zotto is something the Senators desperately needed. They’re a young team who have taken the right steps in its rebuild over the past couple of seasons. Del Zotto won’t be tasked with providing offence as they will get plenty of that from Thomas Chabot on the back end. Rather, MDZ will be looked to for veteran leadership. He joins fellow veteran Nick Holden as a newly acquired experienced defenceman, with the pair being the two oldest players on Ottawa’s roster. It makes sense that general manager Pierre Dorion is looking to solidify his team’s back end. The team has a young forward group and question marks surrounding the goaltending situation.
Worst case scenario, if Del Zotto has a solid season and the Senators aren’t contending, he could be packaged in a deadline deal for more assets. If that’s the case, at least Del Zotto is used to moving teams.
