Canes Brind'Amour says NY Islanders D Tony DeAngelo too good not to be in NHL

Tony DeAngelo’s NHL journey has been anything but ordinary. He shoulders much of the blame for that with on and off-the-ice incidents throughout his juniors, minor league, and NHL career that have branded him as a bad teammate and a player you don't want in your organization.

A gifted puck-moving defenseman with a knack for creating offensive opportunities, DeAngelo’s talent has never been in question. His on-ice production and skill set make him a valuable asset for any team needing offense from their backend.

However, controversies and questions surrounding his off-ice behavior have cast a shadow over his career and are the main reason he wasn't in the NHL until signing a one-year contract with the New York Islanders for the remainder of the season. After clearing waivers earlier in the day, DeAngelo became eligible to be on the team's roster following his stint in the KHL.

"He's too good of a player not to be in this league," Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour said before his Hurricanes took on the Islanders on Saturday night at UBS Arena. DeAngelo played 31 regular season games for the Canes and nine more in the post-season in a depth role. According to a post on X from Newsday's Andrew Gross, Brind'Amour added that he was surprised it took his long for the 29-year-old to find his way on an NHL team and called him a great player.

Brind'Amour isn't the only player or coach with positive things to say about DeAngelo despite the adverse reactions from a segment of the Isles fanbase and others around the league. Gross reported yesterday that Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson had received unsolicited texts saying that DeAngelo was a good teammate and would fit in their close-knit room.

Given the Islanders' position in the standings, the injury to Noah Dobson, and the uncertain status of Mike Reilly, DeAngelo’s abilities were simply too good to overlook for GM Lou Lamoriello. His stay may be short on Long Island, or he might make the most of this opportunity to the point where the Islanders and perhaps other NHL teams will be willing to take a longer look moving forward.