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Lightning Round: Ex-Bolt Tony DeAngelo on waivers

Posted on by Justin G.

On Sunday, the New York Rangers raised a few eyebrows around the NHL when they placed defenseman Anthony (Tony) DeAngelo on waivers. It was a surprising move for a team that had just signed the 25-year-old defenseman to a two-year, $9.6 million extension this past fall. The contract seemed to indicate some stability for a young player that has already played in three separate organizations since being drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014.

He never suited up for the Lightning as he was traded in the summer of 2016 to the Arizona Coyotes for a second round draft pick (a pick that the Lightning used on Libor Hajek, a player who may replace DeAngelo’s minutes in New York this season). The trade followed one season with the Syracuse Crunch where he put up 43 points (6 goals, 37 assists) in 69 games. That record of offense, combined with a less-than-intense dedication to defense, has made him an intriguing prospect for some teams.

Following a season with the Coyotes where he split time between the NHL and AHL, he was dealt to the Rangers along with a first round pick in exchange for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta. In New York he’s put up points from the blueline, but struggled defensively. Prior to this season he’s never posted positive possession numbers (only 48% of the shots taken while he’s on the ice are for his team).

Following the move, Rangers head coach Dan Quinn admitted that it wasn’t a singular offense that has led the organization down this road,

“There’s always rumors, as you know,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “I’m not going to address rumors. This isn’t about one incident. It’s not about one thing. It’s a situation the organization felt was best at this current time and we’ll see how the situation plays out.

The “rumors” he is referring to refer to an alleged altercation following New York’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night (a game in which DeAngelo was on the ice for four of the five goals against).

While he’s struggled on the ice with his role as a defenseman, he’s more notorious for his off-ice incidents that date back to his days in junior hockey where he was suspended twice for violating the league’s policy against “homophobic, racist, and sexist language”. He’s also been suspended twice (once in juniors, once in the NHL) for verbal abuse of an official. Just this season, the Rangers scratched him for two games following an incident on opening night where he picked up an unsportsmanlike penalty after yelling at the officials.

Add in a Twitter account (now deactivated) and a podcast that served as a platform for “extreme, antagonistic political ideologies, COVID-19 denialism, and staunch support of the outgoing president (Donald J. Trump)” according to a Yahoo News article, and it’s not a sure thing that another team will want to claim him. That’s a lot of baggage that comes along with a limited, singular skill.

At this point the Rangers have a couple of options. If he clears waivers they can assign him to the taxi squad or AHL and save a little bit of money on his cap hit. They can hope another team claims him and shed his entire contract. Or they can hope he doesn’t report and then terminate his contract. If the allegations of a physical confrontation are true, it’s unlikely that he’ll be back in their uniform in the future. Will another team take a chance on him after three others have cut him loose? Who knows.

Lightning News

We all know Coach Cooper is the longest tenured coach in the NHL. How about this factoid from the New York Times profile of the man behind the bench:

“among coaches with at least 500 career games, only the retired Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman (.657) had a better points percentage than Cooper (.645) entering this season.”

What Is Jon Cooper’s ‘Special Sauce?’

It was a long two weeks for Curtis McElhinney as he isolated from the team and his family.

Curtis McElhinney on his experience in isolation

Gerald Coleman’s Lightning career wasn’t very long (just two games), but they were quite significant. The Color of Hockey profiles the goaltender from Illinois who became the first US-born Black goalie in league history.

Color of Hockey: Coleman rose from diversity program to NHL pioneer

Hockey News:

The NHL Department of Player Safety is showing no signs of rust following the late start to the season. They ruled that there will be no supplemental discipline for Dillon Dube’s hit on Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Our friends at Habs Eyes On the Prize are less than thrilled will the ruling.

Making Hockey Violent Again

Marco Rossi is one of the Minnesota Wild’s top prospects and he was expected to play a big role for them this season. Unfortunately, complications from a bout with COVID back in November has ended his season. Rossi returned to his native Austria to recover.

Marco Rossi will not play this season

For the first time in its existence, the NHL Network will be producing and broadcasting NHL games from their own studio. While they have shown live games in the past they have simulcast one of the local feeds. It’s interesting timing for them to be trying this with the US TV rights up for renewal next season.

NHL Network to produce live game broadcasts for first time…

Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid had themselves a night against the Ottawa Senators. Draisaitl racked up six assists while McDavid had a goal and four helpers as the Oilers won 8-5.

Oilers’ McDavid, Draisaitl pick apart Senators in nearly historic night

The NWHL had to juggle some things around after the New York Riveters had to leave the Lake Placid bubble after some positive COVID tests. It seems they adjusted quite well:

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Talking Points