Tony DeAngelo and the Carolina Hurricanes are headed for a reunion, it seems.
The defenseman will reportedly have his second stint with the team in 2023-24, signing a one-year, $1.675 million contract. The news of his return was broken by Frank Seravalli on Twitter:
DeAngelo is a one-dimensional depth defenseman that contributes at a high clip on offense but has struggled mightily in the defensive zone to this point in his career. The American was drafted 19th overall in the 2014 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, then made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes before finding a home for several seasons with the New York Rangers.
The defenseman’s time in the Big Apple came to an end when he was bought out by the Rangers in 2020-21. The following year, DeAngelo was signed by the Hurricanes, where he posted ten goals and 41 assists in 64 games during one of the most productive stretches of his NHL career. He also scored 10 points in 14 games for the Canes during the 2021-22 playoffs.
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Following that postseason, DeAngelo signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers, a contract that would’ve concluded after this year. However, the defender now has the unfortunate distinction of being the only player in NHL history to be bought out twice, as the rebuilding Flyers decided to save cap room and let the 27-year-old walk.
The Hurricanes bringing DeAngelo back could indicate they see the defenseman as someone who can help the team in a limited role. Team defense has been a strength of the Hurricanes for years, so if DeAngelo can go out and use his passing and skating to drive offense, his linemates could pick up the slack defensively. It worked for him two seasons ago, and it just may again.
DeAngelo is an infamous player that, despite everything, produces points wherever he goes. It looks like those points will be for the Hurricanes in 2023-24.
