When the Rangers acquired Tony DeAngelo in the summer of 2017, the organization understood the risks associated with the controversial defenseman.
The Rangers only have themselves to blame now that DeAngelo’s NHL future is uncertain, after the team placed the 25-year-old defenseman on waivers following a tunnel altercation that emerged following Saturday’s 5-4 overtime defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
According to The Athletic, multiple sources confirmed that there was an altercation between DeAngelo and goaltender Alexandar Georgiev that was quickly broken up .The alleged incident was the latest in a string of unwanted headlines that have surrounded DeAngelo since he signed a two-year, $9.6 million contract on Oct.
15, 2020.
DeAngelo has often used social media to promote conspiracy theories and provoke the Rangers’ fan base. He caused a stir by tweeting: “What happened to ‘COVID-19’ the last 48 hours?” following the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. After Donald Trump was suspended by Twitter for his role in inciting the January storming of the United States Capitol, DeAngelo announced that he would be joining Parler, a social media app that serves as a haven for conspiracy theorists. The controversial app was cited by Google as a “public safety threat” after Parler users planned the violent attempt to reverse Trump’s election defeat.
It should have never reached this point. The Rangers kept offering DeAngelo second chance after second chance. It shouldn’t have taken this long for the team to reach their final straw. Remember, this is a player who, as recently as August, challenged a fan to a fight outside Madison Square Garden. The Rangers had to deal with the fallout, leading to DeAngelo deleting the tweets.
The Rangers don’t deserve a pat on the back or praise for finally reaching the decision to waive DeAngelo. Again, the Rangers knew of DeAngelo’s history and what they were getting into by giving him a chance to represent their organization after the Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes had enough of his act. They knew of his track record of character flaws, which included slurs directed at teammates, opponents, and officials during his OHL years. The slur directed at a teammate was so serious that the league handed down an eight-game suspension.
It seemed as long as DeAngelo was productive, the Rangers were willing to tolerate the baggage and the unfavorable light that he put the organization under. Last season, his 53 points in 68 regular season games made it easier for the Blueshirts to stomach the headaches.
This season has been a different story. DeAngelo had recorded one point through six games and was on the ice for four of the five goals against on Saturday, including Sidney Crosby’s overtime game-winner. His defensive-zone struggles, lack of offensive contributions, and tendency to take undisciplined penalties led to head coach David Quinn scratching DeAngelo for consecutive games following a 4-0 season-opening defeat to the rival Islanders.
DeAngelo’s play has soured while the headaches have persisted, and it’s clear that his future with the Rangers is on thin ice.
Follow Sean Hartnett on Twitter: @HartnettHockey
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch