It would seem outspoken defenseman Tony DeAngelo is out of time with the New York Rangers. DeAngelo was placed on waivers Sunday afternoon, after getting into an off-ice confrontation with goaltender Alex Georgiev Saturday night. DeAngelo was on the ice for three of the Pittsburgh Penguins five goals during Saturday’s clash which the Rangers lost 5-4 in overtime.
The new was broke by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman on Twitter Sunday Afternoon:
After putting up 53 points in 68 games last season it seemed Tony DeAngelo had found a home in New York. However, his performances early in the season led to head coach David Quinn placing him as a healthy scratch. According to reports from Larry Brooks of the New York Post that didn’t sit well with DeAngelo.
In addition to the questionable body language from DeAngelo on Saturday, there had been indications that DeAngelo had not reacted to being scratched from the season’s second and third games with an especially constructive or positive attitude.
Larry Brooks, New York Post – “Tony DeAngelo and Alex Georgiev had physical altercation after Rangers loss”
DeAngelo has had controversy follow him during his career including the minors where he was suspended for violating the Ontario Hockey League’s policy about keeping “homophobic, racist and sexist language out of the game.” He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2014 NHL draft but never played a game before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes in 2016. His time there was even shorter as he was traded to the New York Rangers in June 2017.
Now it seems the Rangers have also become tired of DeAngelo’s antics and are looking to cut ties. With two years at $4.8 million AAV remaining on his contract it’s difficult to say who would be interested, but if he can put up 50 plus points you’d have to think quite a few. It’s just a pity his utterly stupid off-ice antics will overshadow his on-ice ability.
