What’s next for Tony DeAngelo and the Hurricanes? Both hoping to ‘take the next step’
Tony DeAngelo would like nothing more than to pretend he never left the Carolina Hurricanes.
Just recreate much of the 2021-22 season, when the defenseman enjoyed himself, played some of his best hockey and turned boos — not all, but a lot — into cheers from a fan base that was skeptical at best when the Canes first signed him two years ago.
But things are different. DeAngelo, after a year with the Philadelphia Flyers, has been bought out of his contract for a second time in his NHL career. He did not mesh with first-year Flyers coach John Tortorella. As much as he loved playing in Philly, DeAngelo, a healthy scratch late in the season, was ready for a new team when it ended.
DeAngelo found it. An unrestricted free agent after the buyout, he agreed to a one-year deal Monday with the Hurricanes for $1.675 million. He’ll be back playing for Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour.
“It’s all about me coming in and helping the Hurricanes take the next step to where we all want to be,” DeAngelo said Tuesday on a media call.
That is, Stanley Cup champions.
What went wrong in Philly?
“The coach and I wound up not fitting together, I guess that would be the main reason for leaving the team,” DeAngelo said Tuesday.
DeAngeo, 27, said he and Tortorella had a “mutual disagreement on a bunch of things” about which he did not elaborate, though he noted there was nothing “personal” about it, nor any major confrontation or blowup.
“At the same time, I enjoyed playing in Philly, if that makes any sense,” DeAngelo said. “It was a dream of mine from when I was a little kid to play with the Flyers.
“But it didn’t work out. As soon as it wasn’t working out we kind of had an idea that if I was going to go anywhere it would be back to Carolina, if possible. Glad it worked out that way.”
Since NHL free agency began July 1, there has been constant speculation about the Canes and D-men — Carolina might seek a trade to acquire San Jose’s Erik Karlsson, the Canes might be willing to trade Brett Pesce, and so it has gone.
The Hurricanes did sign one of the best available unrestricted free agents: defenseman Dmitry Orlov. That raised some eyebrows around the league.
Sitting back and paying attention was DeAngelo, who said he had first learned of a possible trade to Carolina from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman in late June. On July 1, Canes president and general manager Don Waddell said there was a deal “in principle” with the Flyers to bring back DeAngelo.
More time passed. The Flyers put DeAngelo on unconditional waivers, then bought out the final year of DeAngelo’s contract that was to pay him $5 million this season. DeAngelo was cut loose.
Where DeAngelo will fit with the Canes now depends on what else the Canes do. Brent Burns is playing with Jaccob Slavin — DeAngelo’s old spot in the top D pairing — and there are Pesce, Brady Skjei, Jalen Chatfield and now Orlov.
Replacing defenseman Dougie Hamilton in 2021-22, DeAngelo finished with 51 points in 64 games while quarterbacking a power-play unit. The Canes’ style of play, DeAngelo said, fit his game perfectly as he could seek out offensive possibilities while Slavin covered up some of his defensive mistakes.
“And the way I got along with Rod is more than any other coach that I played for in my career,” he said. “I thought we were a good match for one another.”
The Canes were hoping to re-sign DeAngelo after the 2021-22 season. They couldn’t. Now, they have him back.
Some Canes fans were not happy when DeAngelo was signed two years ago, given his past troubles, and let their feelings be known on social media and at the games.
“The first game I played in Carolina, there were some pretty loud boos when I got announced on opening night,” he said.
DeAngelo eventually won over a chunk of the fans with some intense, fiery play. Others grudgingly tolerated him. Some will never like him or totally accept him.
All DeAngelo can do is play.
“Everybody seems to have opinions one way or the other,” he said Tuesday. “That’s the way my career has gone.
“I don’t mind. They can say what they want. But I was happy in Carolina, and one of the big reasons for wanting to come back was the way the fans embraced me there, and the team and the organization. It was nice and it will be nice to be back.”
