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Del Zotto agrees to 2-year deal with Flyers

Michael Del Zotto was hoping to avoid arbitration and sign a two-year deal with the Flyers. The 25-year-old defenseman got his wish on both counts.

Michael Del Zotto was hoping to avoid arbitration and sign a two-year deal with the Flyers. The 25-year-old defenseman got his wish on both counts.

With an arbitration hearing set for Tuesday, Del Zotto agreed to a two-year contract extension worth a reported $7.75 million with the Flyers on Thursday.

"We always wanted a two-year deal and didn't want to settle on one," Del Zotto said in a conference call. "I think both sides wanted that."

Del Zotto signed a one-year, $1.3 million free-agent deal with the Flyers last year.

He had 10 goals and 22 assists in 64 games last season. That tied his single-season high for goals and led Flyers defensemen in that department. Del Zotto also scored 10 in 2011-12 with the New York Rangers.

The Flyers, right up against the salary cap, also have a logjam on defense. There are eight defensemen under contract, including Andrew MacDonald, Mark Streit, Luke Schenn, Nick Schultz, Yevgeny Medvedev, Radko Gudas, and Brandon Manning.

That's not including first-round pick Ivan Provorov, the seventh overall selection in the draft, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 3.

"I don't think it's a perfect world," general manager Ron Hextall said about the crowded situation on defense. "Things are quiet [on possible trades] now. We have some good defensemen and I am sure we will get calls."

It would be difficult to fit a rookie like Provorov under the salary cap but not impossible, Hextall said. "We have options. You can still send players down, so if you feel creating a spot is the right thing, we will do what we can," he said.

Rookies "will have to come in and earn it, whether they are defensemen or forwards," Hextall said.

One of those rookies, forward Travis Konecny, signed a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday. Konecny 18, was the Flyers' second first-round pick, the 24th player chosen overall.

Hextall said he continues to have dialogue with Jake Voracek's agent about a contract extension and would like to get something done by training camp. Voracek, who earned his first all-star berth last season, has one year remaining on his four-year, $17 million deal.

Hextall said there is nothing new to report on attempts to trade Vinny Lecavalier, who has a salary-cap hit of $4.5 million in each of the next three years.

"We are status quo," Hextall said. "We are planning on going into the season with Vinny and see what happens."

@sjnard