Flyers newcomer Del Zotto getting acquainted with new teammates

ORLEANS, Mass. - For most of the Flyers, their weekend of paintball, fishing, golf and barbecue on Cape Cod was a trip with familiar friends. Twenty of the Flyers' 23 players are returnees, guys who have already gone to war with one another.

For newcomer Michael Del Zotto, the team's annual bonding excursion was a chance to finally familiarize himself with teammates who had been hated enemies for the last five seasons.

"I think everyone's been great," Del Zotto said with a laugh. "It was just great to get to know some of the guys, get some chemistry on and off the ice. I think that's what this weekend was all about. It's a very tight-knit group."

Del Zotto, 24, was already surprisingly familiar with the Flyers before he even arrived last month - at least on the ice.

That's because he spent the summer glued to his laptop, watching video, when he wasn't training. He viewed hours of last season's games, focusing individually on each player, trying to pick up tendencies.

"That's something I've always done, but this year more so than ever, just because it's a new team," Del Zotto said. "I look for where they like to be on the ice, where they are, their strengths and weaknesses. Just stuff like that. Stuff happens so quick on the ice, it's nice to watch video and slow it down and see what's available out there - for good plays and bad plays.

"The quicker you can make that transition [to a new team], the easier the game will come."

For most of his first four seasons, the NHL came pretty easily for Del Zotto. He racked up 37 points in 80 games as a 19-year-old and was named first-team all-rookie. Even two seasons ago, in 2011-12, he was mentioned as one of the NHL's top, young defensemen. His lockout-shortened season was fine.

Then, the wheels fell off for him last season. He was a healthy scratch early in the season for the Rangers under new coach Alain Vigneault and never recovered.

Del Zotto never latched on with Nashville after a midseason trade. The budget-minded Predators, unwilling to spring for a $2.9 million qualifying offer, let him walk as a free agent. If that wasn't a total shock, the real surprise came when no team jumped to sign him as free agency opened on July 1.

He went un-signed until Flyers veteran Kimmo Timonen was diagnosed with blood clots on Aug. 4, and general manager Ron Hextall reached out with a 1-year, $1.3 million deal.

The setup for Del Zotto couldn't be better. He's back playing in a high-profile hockey market, where he'll be given every opportunity (including special teams) to revert to the suave, puck-moving defenseman everyone saw 2 years ago. The carrot at the end of the stick is a boatload of cash from an organization that always pays its players - especially in positions of need.

Under coach Craig Berube, he'll be given the green light to join the rush, something he probably was cautioned against last season with the Rangers. Berube's message is "not thinking so much and just playing."

"He's got great tools," Berube said. "Most of it is mental. This game is all mental - ups and downs of the season, the grind, the wins and losses, you guys [media] always ripping players, fans booing. It's a mental game.

"I'm sure at times, Michael Del Zotto tried to be too risky with the puck - like every offensive player. Our message to Michael is that it's not all about that. It's playing the right way. He'll get his offensive chances. It's playing defense. He's a defense-man."

Given what he's been through this summer, he acknowledged he will be emotional tomorrow night at TD Garden. He spent most of the offseason hanging around Tyler Seguin, who spent last season resurrecting his career in Dallas after being run out of Boston. It's almost as if it was all meant to work out this way.

"It was definitely a motivating, humbling summer for me," Del Zotto said.

Injured forward Wayne Simmonds (bruised left foot) returned to the ice yesterday for practice in Cape Cod. His first on-ice session in nearly a week raised speculation that he'll be available for tomorrow night's opener against the Bruins.

"I felt as good as I could be out there," Simmonds said. "I got through the whole practice, so that was a good sign. It's too early to tell. I'll skate [today] and then [tomorrow] before the game and we should be able to tell by then."

As a precaution, forward Blair Jones alternated in Simmonds' spot during line rushes. Jones, 28, would make his Flyers debut if Simmonds cannot play.

Kicking off a long season with three games in 4 nights, Simmonds hinted he wouldn't rush returning if it meant possibly doing more damage. He has missed only three games since joining the Flyers in 2011.

"It's probably a better time to be cautious," Simmonds said. "Obviously, the beginning of the year is really important, but, at the same time, it's not like we're in the stretch run right now."

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