According to a team release from GM Ron Hextall, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto will be out four to five weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury. Del Zotto joins Brandon Manning and Scott Laughton on the injury shelf, after both were ruled out this week.
Del Zotto played in Thursday’s game against the Rangers, logging just over 16 minutes. After an injury plagued 2015-16, the last thing the Flyers wanted was another slow start for the 26-year old. Del Zotto played just 52 games and recorded 13 points in what was arguably the worst season of his career.
Hugely talented, Del Zotto has never been able to find consistency in the NHL, dealing with various bouts of injury and ineffectiveness throughout his career. After seemingly finding his stride in the first year of his Philly career, he’s now back to being the unknown that the Rangers eventually got fed up with.
With the season starting in less than a week, he’ll miss at least the first month and likely will not hit the 70 game mark again – something he’s done only twice in his career. Ivan Provorov, a 19-year old standout, will likely make the team if Manning and Del Zotto cannot go to start the year, though there is some hope still that Manning will be ready.