Flyers banking on Del Zotto's return to top form

New Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is gambling that a change of scenery will help defenseman Michael Del Zotto get back to the form he displayed when he was named to the NHL's all-rookie team with the New York Rangers in 2009-10.

Back then, Del Zotto appeared ticketed for stardom.

Fast-forward to last season. Del Zotto struggled on defense, and he was taken off the power-play unit. He was eventually dealt to Nashville and found himself a healthy scratch numerous times.

When the free-agency period opened in July, Del Zotto, 24, drew little interest. After the Flyers learned Kimmo Timonen had three blood clots, however, Hextall quickly signed Del Zotto to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. Del Zotto had earned an average of $2.55 million in each of his previous two seasons.

Hextall has a theory on why Del Zotto's career may have stalled with the Rangers.

"He came in at 19 years old - and you get a lot of money and fame and you're living in New York City, and it's like, 'I've got the life,' and you don't realize what got you there," the general manager said. "You temporarily lose sight of everything. It happens time after time with these young kids. Part of the reason I talk about time in the minors being a good thing, is [because] you kind of get grounded. You kind of get assimilated to pro hockey, but not on the big stage right away."

Added Hextall: "It's a lot to handle for a young person. It's difficult. I'm assuming Michael went through some of that. I talked to him the other day. He feels he's refocused; he's in great shape. He worked extremely hard this summer, and he's looking forward to having a good season."

Hextall was asked if Del Zotto seemed grounded.

"He does. I mean, a month and a half of having no teams jump up and down to sign you probably can do that," he said. "I think Michael realizes how good a player he can be and how good a player he has been, and he needs to get back to that. When you look at his attributes, his skating and his puck moving ability are two things we're really excited about, and we feel he can really help our back end."

The Flyers hope the offensive-minded Del Zotto can revive his career, much like goalie Steve Mason did after he was acquired from Columbus.

"Last year wasn't a reflection of how I can play and what I can do," Del Zotto said. "It's in the past, and this is a fresh start. I'm just looking to get off to a good start with my teammates here and get some chemistry . . . and get to know them on and off the ice."

Del Zotto played well in his first preseason game with the Flyers, a 3-2 shootout loss to Toronto on Monday, but he had some defensive lapses and was minus-3 Tuesday in a 4-0 defeat to the Maple Leafs.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Ontario native will use the rest of camp to try to get in sync with his new defensive partner, Luke Schenn, and build a comfort level that the duo can take into the season-opener Oct. 8 in Boston.

The Flyers, 1-1-1 in the preseason, host the Devils on Thursday before facing the AHL Phantoms in Allentown on Saturday at 5 p.m. . . . The Flyers trimmed 22 players from their roster. Three players were assigned to their junior teams, and 19 players were assigned to the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms, including goalie Anthony Stolarz, forwards Nick Cousins and Petr Straka, and defensemen Mark Alt and Robert Hagg. Scott Laughton, Sam Morin, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Taylor Leier are among the prospects still in the big-league camp. None is expected to be with the Flyers when the season starts.