The Carolina Hurricanes have made a significant addition to their roster, signing defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a one-year, $1.675 million deal. This move comes after the Hurricanes came close to acquiring DeAngelo from the Philadelphia Flyers before the NHL Draft, but the deal fell through due to restrictions in the NHL collective bargaining agreement.
DeAngelo’s contract with the Flyers was bought out in July, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 25-year-old defenseman had a productive season last year, scoring 11 goals and recording 31 assists in 70 games. His offensive contributions will be a valuable asset to the Hurricanes’ blue line.
DeAngelo’s fit with the Hurricanes is an interesting one. He will be joining a stronger defensive unit than the one he left after the 2021-22 season. During his time in Carolina, DeAngelo played alongside Jaccob Slavin, one of the league’s best shutdown defensemen. Slavin’s presence helped mask some of DeAngelo’s defensive shortcomings. However, since his departure, Brent Burns has filled that slot and had an excellent season. It is unlikely that DeAngelo will regain that position unless there is a major decline in Burns’ performance.
While DeAngelo may not have as strong of a partner to balance him out, he is expected to play in more sheltered minutes. This means that he will likely be given less challenging defensive assignments, allowing him to focus on his offensive contributions. It will be interesting to see how DeAngelo adapts to this new role and if he can maintain his discipline and offensive spark.
As it stands, DeAngelo could potentially be paired with Dmitry Orlov on the third defensive pair. However, there are still questions regarding the right side of the lineup. Brett Pesce, who currently plays on the right side, has not extended his contract, and there is a possibility that he may be traded before it expires next summer. If Pesce is traded, DeAngelo could skate with Brady Skjei, whom he has played with in the past. This would provide the Hurricanes with more depth on the right side, although Pesce and DeAngelo have different skill sets and strengths.
In terms of the deal itself, it could prove to be a cost-effective signing for the Hurricanes. With a $1.6 million cap hit, it is less than what it would have been if they had traded for DeAngelo with salary retention from the Flyers. While there is some risk involved, given DeAngelo’s past disciplinary issues and off-ice concerns, the Hurricanes have a reputation for maximizing the potential of even the most flawed defensemen. By limiting his role and focusing on his offensive contributions, the hope is that DeAngelo can be effective without being a liability defensively.
This signing marks DeAngelo’s fourth move in as many years. He has previously played for the Rangers, Hurricanes, and Flyers before returning to Carolina. After a disappointing season and a deteriorating relationship with Flyers coach John Tortorella, the Flyers worked on trading DeAngelo back to the Hurricanes. However, the deal fell through, leading to his contract being bought out.
In conclusion, the addition of Tony DeAngelo to the Carolina Hurricanes’ roster brings both offensive firepower and potential risks. With a stronger defensive unit around him, DeAngelo will have the opportunity to focus on his offensive contributions while playing in more sheltered minutes. The Hurricanes will be hoping that DeAngelo can maintain his discipline and offensive spark while minimizing his defensive liabilities. Only time will tell if this signing proves to be a successful one for Carolina.