Controversial former rangers defender now potential NHL free-agent option

On By Littum

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Carolina Hurricanes in New York Rangers
CREDIT: Brad Penner-Preferred Pictures

After a 34-match stint in KHL, former New York Rangers defender Tony Deangelo stood with his team and returned to North America for what is believed to be family causes.

Deangelo had a decent race in KHL, albeit a short one. In his 34 games he was the highest scored defender in the league, logging six goals and 26 assists for 32 points, as well as a Plus-15 assessment with Ska Skt. Petersburg.

While he is believed to have returned to North America to be with his family, rumors suggest that it may not be the whole story. It is reported that Deangelo was focused solely on offensive production to accommodate certain performance bonus benchmarks and that he was unable to gel in a team environment.

Nevertheless, his return to North America could attract attention from an NHL team or two. The 29-year-old defender was successful in the NHL, with 48 goals and 210 points in 377 career games shared between Arizona Coyotes, Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.

Last season he played 31 games with the hurricanes and had 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in a limited role. When Brett Pesce was injured early in the Stanley Cup playing game, Deangelo took over a regular role on Hurricanes Blue Line. He played nine postal season matches and average over 19 minutes in ice age per day. Battle, which contributed two assists.

Deangelo played all six matches against rangers in the second round. He had an assist in Carolina’s Game 2 overtime loss in New York and another in his home wine in Game 4.

But despite the defender, his age signed large contracts last season, Deangelo could not land a deal of any kind and decided in late September to play in KHL.

Although Deangelo’s controversial character is well known through the league, there may be a team that is interested in signing him for the stretch drive on a minimum NHL contract.

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Potential landing spaces for Tony Deangelo

NHL: New York Rangers at New York Islanders
Tony Deangelo with Rangers in 2020-DeNnis Schneidler-Pre-Preferred Photos

It should be noted that Rangers has zero interest in a reunion with Deangelo. They sent him home early in the 2020-21 season and eventually swung the rest of his contract. He had been benched early in the season by the then coach David Quinn and then had a quarrel with goalkeeper Alexandar Georgiev. It combined with some controversial posts on social media landed him on the outside and looked into the NHL.

However, Deangelo has skill. He had an NHL career high 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) with rangers in 2019-20 and two years later had 51 points in 64 games with the hurricanes.

So which teams may have an interest in Deangelo this time?

Carolina Hurricanes

NHL: Carolina Hurricanes on Chicago Blackhawks
Jamie Sabau-Misted Pictures

Deangelo had two stints with the hurricanes before going over to Russia. He only played for them in the 2021-22 season, after his tenure with Rangers crashed and burned. Deangeloe was never known for his defense, had a career high plus-30 assessment that season. He added a goal and nine assists in 14 playoffs.

After spending a season of flyers, he returned to Carolina last season in a part -time role. However, after finding his game in KHL, Carolina may be interested in a third reunion. Their depth in defense is not the same this season after losing both Pesce and Brady Skjei in free agency, though they added Shayne Gostisers and Sean Walker.

Coach Rod Brind’amor knows Deangelo and there were no problems in his two previous stints with the team. So this makes sense to both parties.

Vancouver Canucks

There may not be a more hectic team in the NHL when it comes to rumors and drama than Vancouver Canucks right now. Why not touch the pot even more by bringing Deangelo in? Jokes aside, Canucks have too good with a list to be a bubble team in the playoffs. They have to do something to shake things up, and rather than act away talent, maybe salty in a puck moving defender like Deangelo could help their cause.

Quinn Hughes carries the defensive core and team as a whole with 50 points in the season. The next closest defender is Tyler Myers with only 13 points. Despite all the drama around Canucks this season, a serious case can be made to bring a player like DeAngelo who could at least give some more points from the defense position.

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Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins has not had the season they imagined after making some key season purchases such as Center Elias Lindholm and defender Nikita Zadorov, as well as signing goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman for an eight-year expansion. Yet they are in the second wild-card site at the eastern conference, although only a maximum of seven points separates them from seven teams right on their heels who want to push.

It is safe to say that Boston could use some help on the back, especially with regard to points. It’s been a tough season for Charlie McAvoy, who has only 20 points in 45 games. In fact, it is Mason Lohrei who leads all Bruins defender in points with 22, but he has a minus-10 assessment, worst among Boston’s defenders. This is another team that can take the risk of adding Deangelo in the hope that he can give more depth and some added violation to their fighting defense corps.

Dane Walsh is a lifelong fan of the New York Rangers. Dane has … More about Dane Walsh growing up in the Tri-State area

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