Despite their defensive overhaul over the weekend, the New York Islanders are bringing back a familiar face to their blue line group.
New York announced it was re-signing controversial defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a one-year contract worth a reported $1.75 million.
DeAngelo played 35 games on Long Island last season, after playing the first half of the year with SKA-St. Petersburg of the KHL. DeAngelo posted four goals and 19 points after he signed as a free agent Jan. 24, with four of his 15 assists coming on the power play.
In 406 NHL games, the Sewell, New Jersey native has 52 goals and 229 points and a minus-34 rating.
Why Did The Islanders Re-Sign Tony DeAngelo?
The case could be made the Isles should have never signed him in the first place, since they were committing to a rebuild and could have given his 23:21 in ice time to a prospect.
Still, DeAngelo can help the Isles’ power play, which was historically bad in the first half before taking off in the season’s second half. New York finished 31st in power-play efficiency (12.6 percent) yet closed the year with a modest 11-for-72 stretch (15.3 percent) from March 1 through the end of the year.
He isn’t great defensively, but DeAngelo’s power-play prowess is important for the Isles after they traded top-unit right-shot defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens last week.
If DeAngelo hit free agency, he undoubtedly would have had suitors due to his right-handedness and the fact he has 93 career power-play points and has quarterbacked high-functioning power plays in the past.
Why Is Tony DeAngelo Controversial?
The Islanders are DeAngelo’s fifth NHL team, and again he was out of North America after he went unsigned in free agency a year ago.
But DeAngelo’s skill may be exceeded by the controversy that seems to follow wherever he goes. While with the New York Rangers, DeAngelo reportedly fought then-backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev which led to DeAngelo being released.
“I yelled at Georgi, ‘Make a bleeping save!’ 100 per cent,” DeAngelo said on the “Moring Cuppa Hockey” podcast last year. “If I didn’t yell at [Georgiev], [Georgiev] wasn’t going to turn around and try to do anything, that’s a fact. Obviously, I started it. I wasn’t thinking what happened next was gonna happen, that was a surprise to me.”
The Philadelphia Flyers bought out the final year of his contract after he publicly criticized then-coach John Tortorella after the 2022-23 season, where he was a healthy scratch the final five games of the season.
“He’s the coach of the team. I respect what he does,” DeAngelo said according to ESPN. “Do I agree with it, what happened in the last five games? Absolutely not. I think it’s ridiculous that I didn’t play in the last five. But he’s the coach of the team. It’s not my job to decide that.”
DeAngelo has had uncontroversial periods, especially with the Carolina Hurricanes, and seemed to play without issue on Long Island last season. But the Isles may not want to sit him near No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer in the dressing room at UBS Arena.
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