Defenseman Tony DeAngelo didn't take anything for granted with NY Islanders

The New York Islanders gave defenseman Tony DeAngelo a chance when few—if any—teams would, and he proved worthy of it both on the ice and off. Long seen, largely due to his own actions, as a controversial figure and even a bad teammate, DeAngelo kept a low profile on Long Island and let his game do the talking.

“When I came back, I wasn’t expecting anything, really, so to get a chance to come back, it was great,” DeAngelo said on Saturday. “Don’t take a day for granted, so hopefully I can continue to be back in the league going forward and keep up the same way it was here.”

Battling injuries on the blueline and a power play in disarray, GM Lou Lamoriello signed DeAngelo to a one-year deal in January for the remainder of the season. Given Lamoriello’s longstanding preference for a distraction-free locker room, there was little reason to believe he’d take a flyer on any player, let alone one with DeAngelo’s past, unless the fit was right. From day one, DeAngelo kept his head down and worked, even winning over fans who were initially skeptical about his presence in the dressing room.

“It’s a good veteran group—a lot of leadership, hardworking guys,” he said. “It’s easy to come into a room like that.”

In 35 games with the Islanders, the 29-year-old tallied four goals and 15 points, showcasing his skating, puck movement, and offensive instincts. Head coach Patrick Roy rewarded him with significant minutes, as DeAngelo averaged over 23 minutes per game.

“It was nice to be trusted, and I enjoyed playing for him,” DeAngelo said.

He believes he’s shown enough to warrant another NHL opportunity next season, with his first choice being to stay on Long Island. The Islanders finished the season with as many as nine NHL defensemen on the roster, including Adam Boqvist and Scott Perunovich—both restricted free agents—and Mike Reilly, an unrestricted free agent who returned from heart surgery in inspiring fashion.

If the Islanders choose to bring DeAngelo back, it may be in large part due to his potential impact on the power play, which finished 31st in the league. The unit showed modest improvement with DeAngelo quarterbacking, but overall struggled—especially without Mathew Barzal—to gain and sustain zone time.

“Our entries weren’t solid and consistent enough,” DeAngelo admitted. “Some games they were great—we’d get right in and set up shop. We’ve got five guys in each group who can make plays. But entries were a bit of an issue for us, I thought, and I was a big part of that, so it’s something you’ve got to be better at.”

All in all, DeAngelo’s 35-game stint on Long Island was a surprisingly successful one. Whether it leads to another contract with the Islanders—or elsewhere—remains to be seen, but he’s made a solid case to remain in the league.