Confirmed with Link: Michael Del Zotto signs 2-year contract ($3.875 AAV) (7/16/2015)

[Random Forest]

Medvedev plays the right side but I generally agree with this lineup otherwise.

Medvedev, Streit, Schultz, and MacDonald all are capable of playing both sides, so we have a fair amount of flexibility next year.

 

[Stranger Danger]

You'll see my point when everyone is crying that he's playing like ass next year and getting paid pretty decently to return to below average. My problem is he's a ****** defender

So you don't like young offensive d-men? Sometimes, it takes a lil while for dmen to fully develop.........

 

[FLYguy3911]

He plays either side like a lot of Euros. He is a lefty though.

I have not really focused on where he played when I have watched AK Bars games, but it seemed he was more often on the left.

Hextall went out of his way to mention that he could play the right side. Leads me to believe he will start there. I still think Schenn is the odd man out, but the pessimist in me says we have to watch him play another season.

In a vacuum, this is a fair deal. Just wish he were a little more flexible in the lineup. If he plays like he did last year, he's movable and if you have to eat some of the cap hit for a better return its a short term deal. If he plays like the year prior, we're SOL. They do need someone to move the puck on the backend this year. Streit isn't getting any younger and its tough to count on a teenager.

 

[Curufinwe]

Medvedev replacing Grossmann will help the defense move the puck better.

 

[flyersfan018]

What do you have Einstein?

Literally anything than just fill the line-up with rookies. What a horrible idea.

 

[Random Forest]

Here are the tweets I was thinking of from the draft:





Strehle actually seems to know a thing or two about the organization from a quick read of his recent feed. He maintained the entire time that a deal would get done with MDZ.

So if we take his word that the blueline will be "VERY" different, I think it's safe to assume we have another deal coming involving a returning defender.

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

I am kind of luke warm on this MDZ deal. I don't hate it, but I am not in love with it either.

 

[CutOnDime97]

Schultz is a good defenseman. wth is this nonsense I'm hearing.

Never said he was bad. I said he is meh. Which I stand by.

Easily replaceable, preferably by one of the kids.

 

[Danko]

I like it, Rico Suave played well for us last year. He's still young and has potential plus defenseman just get paid now a days. 2 years is good, AAV aint to bad.

 

[Fragmuffin]

I'd like to see both him and Medvedev on the 2nd PP unit, MDZ would hopefully play Jakes spot and Medvedev would be on top of the umbrella.

 

[BillDineen]

I'd like to see both him and Medvedev on the 2nd PP unit, MDZ would hopefully play Jakes spot and Medvedev would be on top of the umbrella.

2nd unit has needed a distributer of the puck on the half boards. Gagner could possibly work in G's spot.

 

[CodyTheHuman]

I'd like to see both him and Medvedev on the 2nd PP unit, MDZ would hopefully play Jakes spot and Medvedev would be on top of the umbrella.

MDZ is most effective from the left circle, like where Ovi likes to be. Laughton should be in Jake's spot. He actually looked good in that spot in the limited time he got there.

 

[Hiesenberg]

So overall.

Streit
MacDonald
Schultz
Schenn
MDZ
Medvedev

I'm pretty sure all 6 can skate, at least, average. Only person with speed is MDZ, that's going to be a problem.

Passing? Schenn is quite good, MDZ is good.

Shooting? Streit & MDZ are really the only ones good there.

Medvedev is an unknown, so I'm not going to mark him down at all for anything, for all I know he could be the best Dman on the team next year.

Funny thing is, how many times does MDZ come up with things he CAN do?

 

[healthyscratch]

Literally anything than just fill the line-up with rookies. What a horrible idea.

Lol, it was all said in jest. Take it easy man!

 

[NYCFlyer]

Take Luke out of the rotation and we might have the least physical defense in the league. Not that we have to worry about the playoffs but that D would get rag dolled.

 

[bb12]

You have to imagine there is a plan here, Shultz and MDZ 2 year deals, Medvedev 2 or 1 i forget and lots of very smug comments about the blue line. I agree with the concept we cant bring them all up at once, but Hexy needs to start staggering their development. I could imagine he intends to have 1 of the 5 here this season and do what is needed for another 2 next year.

Having 3 d on ECLs is a lot but when you look at it Provorov is NHL ready, Ghost and Morin can make a strong case this year and Sanhiem is very close as well and will be looking to make a case next year.

2 will be NHL rookies, 1 will have a year under their belt. But at some point this year you will see Ghost, Morin and Hagg up here getting ready for the 2016 season. I think Provorov stays seeing as Ghost, Hagg and Morin can go to the AHL.

 

[hatcher]

Take Luke out of the rotation and we might have the least physical defense in the league. Not that we have to worry about the playoffs but that D would get rag dolled.

Gudas is playing forsure and don't be surprized if Luke is here full time too. Every team has pop on their blueline just not skating.

 

[Curufinwe]

Never said he was bad. I said he is meh. Which I stand by.

Easily replaceable, preferably by one of the kids.

Which kid do you want matched up against Staal, Johansen, Crosby, Tavares, Stepan, Jagr, Ovechkin and Crosby?

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

Gudas is playing forsure and don't be surprized if Luke is here full time too. Every team has pop on their blueline just not skating.

Gudas is definitely not playing for sure. The only way he plays is if they make no more moves and Schenn gets benched, which I don't see happening. It is even less likely that BOTH Gudas and Schenn are playing if everyone is healthy. There just isn't room. I think at the end of the day, Schenn gets dealt and Gudas is #7. Morin, Ghost, Sanheim, or Provorov gets the last starting spot.

Streit-MDZ
AMac-Medvedev
Schultz-Rookie
Gudas

 

[Random Forest]

Which kid do you want matched up against Staal, Johansen, Crosby, Tavares, Stepan, Jagr, Ovechkin and Crosby?

Which vet do you want matched up against those guys?

 

[BernieParent]

I still think the Flyers should just convert Del Zotto to a LWer. Win win.

With the contract, though, I wouldn't be gobsmacked if Del Zotto got traded. Honestly, there isn't a single defenseman on the team right now whom I consider to be untradeable from the Flyers' POV; ie, around whom the future defense will be built.

 

[Curufinwe]

Which vet do you want matched up against those guys?

Schultz. Those guys were some of his most common opposition last year.

 

[Chardo]

So overall.

Streit
MacDonald
Schultz
Schenn
MDZ
Medvedev

I'm pretty sure all 6 can skate, at least, average. Only person with speed is MDZ, that's going to be a problem.

Passing? Schenn is quite good, MDZ is good.

Shooting? Streit & MDZ are really the only ones good there.

Medvedev is an unknown, so I'm not going to mark him down at all for anything, for all I know he could be the best Dman on the team next year.

Funny thing is, how many times does MDZ come up with things he CAN do?

What about, you know, defense? That thing a defenseman is supposed to do?

 

[Hiesenberg]

What about, you know, defense? That thing a defenseman is supposed to do?

Definitely a deficiency, but the skillset that is rare he posses.

 

[Rebels57]

I have no issue with the MDZ contract. I love the 2 year term. I'm guessing we could have gotten a lower cap hit if we went 3 or 4 years but since we had the cap space, it made sense to go for the shorter term. If we waited for arbitration, he would gotten the same figure based on what Justin Schultz was awarded.

I would think the pairings will look something like this to start the season, but will change as things progress and other variables like injury, trades, struggles, etc are introduced to the equation.

Schultz-Streit
Del Zotto-Medvedev
MacDonald-Schenn/Gudas

Healthy Scratch: Schenn/Gudas

If we are out of the playoffs by the deadline, move Schultz and/or Streit for picks at the deadline.

If you can land a late 1st for Streit, bundle it with our pick to move up higher in the draft..or do what we did this year and bundle it with our 2nd to move up for second 1st rounder.

Defense after moving Schultz and Streit:

Del Zotto-Morin
Gostisbehere-Medvedev
MacDonald-Schenn/Gudas

..or something like that..to let the kids wet their beak for the following year.