Tony DeAngelo played a big role in the Islanders' 3-2 overtime win over Carolina. His thoughts and more following his debut.

ELMONT, NY -- After signing a one-year deal for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, defenseman Tony DeAngelo made his New York Islanders debut on Saturday night. 

DeAngelo had played the first half of the season in the KHL after signing with St. Petersburg this summer, before having his contract terminated a few weeks ago.

In a 3-2 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes, the team DeAngelo suited up for in 2023-24, the 29-year-old played 25:10, in large part to defenseman Ryan Pulock going down with a lower-body injury just 15 seconds into the opening shift. 

"It's tough losing Pulock right away. I don't think I was expecting those minutes, but I thought our team played really well," DeAngelo said. "You have two goals right away, the second one an unlucky bounce. And [then], I thought we really controlled the game, did what we were trying to do, and I thought we played really well."

Coming back to the NHL didn't seem like a realistic option for DeAngelo after his stint in the KHL came to a halt. 

"It’s just great to be back," DeAngelo said postgame. "It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m grateful for it. As for hockey, I’m not going to change my game. I’m still going to play with poise, patience, and confidence. The touches will come, but it was a good start tonight and a good win. Two weeks ago, it was something that looked not impossible but pretty bleak.

"I wouldn't say I took the NHL for granted when I was here, but to get another opportunity to be back, you can't ask for much more. So, hopefully, I take advantage."

Thrown into the fire, head coach Patrick Roy had said pregame that he wanted DeAngelo to just play his game and not worry about the system. 

Fortunately for the Islanders, DeAngelo seemed to fit the system to a tee.

"It's a similar game, especially since Patty took over, as Carolina plays," DeAngelo said. "So for me, it's an easy adjustment as far as the system, but I'm just trying to get the timing back, NHL timing, get on [the same] page these guys, whether it's based off plays or power play, whatever it is.

"So it's good to get as many reps as you can."

As for signing with the Islanders, DeAngelo said the timing just worked out. 

"Obviously, injuries happen across the league. You don't wanna see anybody go down," DeAngelo said. "But a void opened up, and I just got back [from Russia], so the timing worked out. To get a chance to meet Lou and speak with Lou and get something done, it was real good for me.

"To be honest, after meeting him, I kind of made my decision pretty quick on where I wanted to go. I like sitting face-to-face and man-to-man. That's what you want: honesty on both sides, and you can get it done."

Roy was impressed by DeAngelo's performance.

"He was outstanding. He was really good," Roy said. "I was very happy to have him tonight. I won't lie. He's smart. He moves the puck well and skates well. I think he's a good fit for us. 

"He's capable of jumping in the rush, and moving the puck on the power play. He probably hasn't played a game since January 12 or 13, when he was in Russia. So I thought he thought he looked good, really good."

The Islanders' power play went 0-for-3, but DeAngelo clearly knows what he's doing at the point. And it also appeared that playing a ton of minutes isn't an issue for the Islanders' newest No. 4.

"There's guys, for some reason, they don't feel those minutes," Roy said. "I guess he's one of them. I mean, he could go out there and play. I was looking at his last game in Russia. He played 26 minutes. So, I mean, welcome to the Islanders organization, isn't it?"

Islanders captain Anders Lee loved what DeAngelo brought to the ice.

"I thought he was great. I think it's gonna be nice to have some time with him on the power play," Lee said. "He's got poise up there. Even just at 5-on-5, he sees the ice. He sees the ice really well. He can get pucks to the net. So I'm excited about having him."

Brock Nelson echoed his captain's sentiments.

"Tony did an unbelievable job, just jumping in, not knowing if he was going to play tonight, and then having to play," Nelson said. "He sees the ice extremely well. He's got a good IQ up there [at the point on the power play]. He did a great job at seeing the play, reading where space is, trying to buy some time for the next guy and creating space for him as well with his movement. I think he does a good job of kind of hanging on to some pucks and threatening as a shooter to maybe get guys to freeze just a little bit."

Nelson continued...

"So, that's obviously a tough test. Carolina has one of the best kills in the league, too. And I thought in the first we did a pretty good job. We didn't get a whole lot of shots, but I thought we had a couple of quality looks after some good movement and support. And that starts with him up top walking the blue line and other guys working around. I thought he was great."

The Islanders will rely heavily on DeAngelo going forward, especially now that Pulock is down with what could be a serious injury. 

The biggest takeaway from our conversation with DeAngelo was his chat with Lamoriello.

Obviously, a portion of the fan base isn't too thrilled with DeAngelo's controversial, troubled past, having been suspended twice in juniors for breaking the OHL's harassment/abuse/diversity policy, punching former New York Rangers' teammate Alexandar Georgiev in the face, to name a few. 

What I will say is that every move Lamoriello makes is calculated. There's no way that the Islanders' general manager, who takes tremendous pride in the culture on the island and the high character he has in his locker room, was bringing in a player he thinks would have a negative impact, on and off the ice. 

Yes, there was a bit of desperation involved in this signing, as the Islanders were in dire need of a puck-moving right-handed defenseman who could play on the power play. But Lamoriello didn't have to make this move. 

He chose to, and he wasn't going to bring all this negative attention to the organization if he didn't feel it was in the team's best interest. 

This is not to say that every fan has to root for DeAngelo or forget anything he's done previously. 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 

The fact of the matter is that DeAngelo is a New York Islander for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, and if they are going to find a way to make a run for a playoff spot, he will have to be a critical piece to the puzzle. 

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