Colorado Avalanche: Top Five Potential Unrestricted Free Agents for Team to Consider
By Ross Sellers
Michael Del Zotto
The Philadelphia Flyers are unlikely to have as many cap problems as the Washington Capitals this summer. However, they may want to upgrade their lineup so they can be more competitive. In that case, they will need to let go of a couple players this summer.
The Flyers currently have $1,351,735 in cap space, according to CapFriendly, and they have eight expiring contracts on their current roster. Out of those eight expiring contracts, three belong to Steve Mason, Shayne Gostisbehere and Michael Del Zotto.
Furthermore, the Flyers have some real good defensive talent emerging in their system that they need to make room for on their NHL roster. So, letting Del Zotto go to free agency would be more of a youth movement rather than a cap space issue.
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Del Zotto is a steady presence on the blueline, and he would immediately help to upgrade the left side. He could either slide into the top pairing with Erik Johnson, or the second pairing with Tyson Barrie.
Obviously, his usefulness on the roster would depend solely on what the Avs plan on doing with Matt Duchene this summer.
If the Avalanche decide to trade Duchy for a top flight defender this summer, then this signing becomes rather obsolete. Obviously that would depend on the handedness of the defenseman they sign, but Del Zotto is not going to be cheap if the Flyers decide to let him go.