Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto out four to five weeks

The Philadelphia Flyers will be without Michael Del Zotto for the next four to five weeks with a lower body injury.

Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers lost Michael Del Zotto for an extended period of time. This led to the Flyers calling up rookie Shayne Gostisbehere, who wound up finishing second in voting for the Calder Trophy. Del Zotto has suffered a lower body injury and will miss the next four to five weeks.

Del Zotto played in Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Rangers at MSG where he logged over 16 minutes of ice time (16:34) on 20 shifts. He appeared in five preseason games in total, where he posted one assist, and averaged nearly 21 minutes of TOI (20:48).

Entering his third season with the Flyers, he recorded 13 points (4g-9a) and averaged over 23 minutes of ice time per game in 52 contests last year, but his season was cut short after he missed the final 28 games due to a wrist injury.

While Del Zotto’s injury is a hit to the Flyers, once again, a young defenseman might be the beneficiary of the injury. Last year, it was Gostisbehere. This year, it could be 2015 first round pick Ivan Provorov. Provorov had a good chance of making the roster even before Del Zotto’s injury. Factoring in Del Zotto’s absence, now Provorov has a clear spot on the Flyers’ roster.

Provorov is coming off an impressive 73 point performance in 62 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings. As great as Gostisbehere was last season, Provorov could make an even larger impact. He is a more polished defenseman than Gostisbehere and is even more dynamic offensively. Even though the Flyers typically adopt a conservative approach to prospects, Provorov has proven he belongs in the NHL. Expect him to play big minutes early. Once Del Zotto gets back, the Flyers could have one of the NHL’s most impressive blue lines.