Just hours after selecting Cutter Gauthier with the fifth overall pick, General Manager Chuck Fletcher made waves again. The Flyers have acquired the rights to pending RFA Tony DeAngelo from the Carolina Hurricanes.
The move will bring the 26-year-old Sewell NJ native back home to the Philadelphia area. DeAngelo fits the need that the Flyers were potentially looking to fill through the draft with either Simon Nemec or David Jiricek. However, Fletcher and company decided to go with Gauthier, a sniper that desperately need.
As news continues to roll out, it sounds like the Flyers and DeAngelo have agreed to a two-year extension in the range of two years for $5 million AAV. The Flyers traded three picks, a second, third and fourth-round picks spread out over three years to Carolina, for the rights to DeAngelo and a seventh-round pick.
Welcome Home Tony DeAngelo
DeAngelo, according to former coach Dan Quinn, is described as an offensive-minded defender with world-class talent. He is a polarizing figure as his departure from the New York Rangers was highly publicized. In the 2020-2021 season, Quinn stated that DeAngelo took an undisciplined penalty, and it was those comments that led to a fractured relationship. Later in January, he and now Colorado Avalanche goaltender, Alex Georgiev, got into an altercation. DeAngelo was then placed on the taxi squad and had his contract bought out at the end of the season.
DeAngelo signed a one-year deal with the Hurricanes. He played in 64 games and contributed 51 points and a plus 30. He is a power-play specialist and fills that void left since Shayne Gostisbehere left. This gives John Tortorella more flexibility with Ivan Provorov.
Regardless of what happened in the past, people deserve second chances, and Tony DeAngelo got that in Carolina. The move also confirms the uncertainty of Ryan Ellis’ recovery. Regardless of what was written about him, he is what the Flyers need and a welcome addition.
Welcome home, Tony!
Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire
