Tony DeAngelo's first season with his hometown team wasn't exactly what he'd hoped for.
Last summer, the Philadelphia Flyers knew they had to be active in the offseason and acquire a difference-maker on the blue line. Due to the career-ending injury to veteran defenseman Ryan Ellis, they simply had no choice. The Flyers needed a player who could take on heavy minutes and, just as importantly, help shore up a power play unit that has struggled mightily since the turn of the decade.
Well, on the morning of July 8, before Day 2 of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft even began, the Flyers made a move for a blueliner they believed could help right the ship.
Tony DeAngelo.
The Flyers acquired DeAngelo from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for three draft picks (including a third-round pick in this year's draft and a second-round pick in next year's draft). And in a corresponding move, they signed DeAngelo to a two-year, $10 million contract extension to keep him in Philadelphia through the 2023-24 season.
DeAngelo is one of the most divisive players in hockey, and for good reason. For one, he's an exciting offensive defenseman capable of racking up a ton of points — especially on the power play. But he's also notorious for his defensive lapses and off-ice issues, which have overshadowed his potential as an offensive playmaker.
Despite his obvious flaws, the Flyers had high hopes that DeAngelo, a native of South Jersey and lifelong fan of the club, was the missing piece needed to help turn things around on the back end.
Unfortunately, things only got worse in DeAngelo's first season playing for his hometown team. And now, the 27-year-old's future with the Flyers is murky at best.
Season In Review
In terms of raw scoring numbers, DeAngelo's first season with the Flyers appeared to be a successful one. In 70 games, DeAngelo registered 11 goals and 42 points — tops amongst Flyers defensemen. But away from the puck, DeAngelo struggled mightily.
This was to be expected, too. DeAngelo has never been mistaken for a defensive stalwart, and his flawed play in the defensive zone cost his team numerous times throughout the season.
In fact, his defensive shortcomings were apparent enough that, at one point, head coach John Tortorella expressed dismay when critiquing his play as a defender.
"We know what Tony is. I'm a little bit — not disappointed — but the defensive liability is something we need to work at," said Tortorella in February. "I didn't think the amount of work that we need to do with him, I didn't think that at the point in time when we got him. But it is what it is. That's our job as a coaching staff."
And those comments were just the start.
At the end of the season, Tortorella opted to bench DeAngelo for the Flyers' final five games. In one of those games, a tilt against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins, Tortorella even chose to dress just five defensemen and play Kieffer Bellows at forward rather than let DeAngelo step onto the ice.
During his end-of-season press conference, Tortorella confirmed he and DeAngelo clashed at times throughout the season. But those hoping for a detailed explanation regarding DeAngelo's benching were left disappointed as Tortorella chose to keep the background of the situation in-house.
"I know that's probably a big topic for you guys. Tony didn't play the last five games, so something happened, right? That's gonna stay between Tony and I and the team," said Tortorella.
"With Tony and I, that's a situation I think that Tony and I need to work through along with the team. Not publicly."
Expectedly, DeAngelo didn't shy away from voicing his displeasure on the matter during his exit interview.
"He's the coach of the team, so you've gotta respect that, and I respect what he does. Do I agree with it? What happened in the last five games? Absolutely not. I think it's ridiculous that I didn't play the last five. That's one thing. But he's also the coach of the team. It's not my job to decide that."
DeAngelo is less than a full calendar year into his tenure as a Flyer, and it's already apparent he and Tortorella don't see eye to eye.
Not exactly surprising for someone who's now playing for his third club in as many seasons.
Standout Moment
Frankly, the standout moments from DeAngelo's season are ones he'd probably prefer to forget. From his overtime blunder against Sebastian Aho to his low blow to Corey Perry's nether regions, DeAngelo's 2022-23 campaign can be highlighted more by lapses of judgement rather than strong play. Still, he did manage to put together some strong showings on occasion.
Perhaps the most notable play of his season came in late December when he netted a game-winning goal in overtime against the San Jose Sharks. The Flyers had one of the worst overtime records in the NHL this season with just five wins beyond regulation all year, but DeAngelo's game-winner in San Jose proved pivotal as the Flyers then embarked on a four-game winning streak during their post-Christmas road trip out west.
Bottom Line
DeAngelo is what he is at this stage of his career — a serviceable puck-moving defenseman who can quarterback a power play and collect a good share of points along the way. But his offensive skills still don't make up for his deficiencies away from the puck, and his off-ice concerns have been nothing but a distraction throughout his career.
DeAngelo's future with the Flyers is very much in question, especially considering how his season ended. And even though he's expressed interest in remaining a Flyer, it doesn't appear he's suited to be part of the solution as the club begins its rebuild.
Verdict:
Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and NHL.com.