Expectations Of TDA Are Higher, As They Should Be

No, I have not changed my ideas about Tony DeAngelo. No, I am not softening my position that his signing was in fact a bad idea. I do, however, believe the Canes should set some high expectations that TDA will have to meet before the Hurricanes, and many of their fans start to think that his signing was worth it. Until those expectations are met, his career in the NHL is likely on the chopping block.

In case you have been living under a rock OR taking a break from Canes news (which I am about to do myself) the Hurricanes signed TDA to a 1 year, $1.6 million contract, after he was placed on waivers, and subsequently bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers. (No team jumping on this “low risk, high value” player should have been telling BUT..who am I?)

In his buyout from the Flyers, TDA lost a substantial amount of money, which Carolina promptly repaid by paying more than DeAngelo’s market value.

Since the Hurricanes have decided to pick up TDA and give him another look, I have some (what I think are) reasonable expectations DeAngelo needs to meet before I will even consider this worth Carolina’s cleaning up Philly’s mess.

First, let’s talk about goal scoring. Everyone defending DeAngelo’s return is bringing up his ability to score as a defensemen. Fine, I can take that at face value, but I think it’s fair to expect that on the ice.

TDA’s best season in goal scoring was 2019-20 in New York. He hit 15 that year for the Rangers. Of that 15, 3 came on the power play.

That total needs to hit 20. At least 5 of those had better come on the power play.
Until then, no one but the TDA apologists are going to be happy.

Point totals are going to need increasing too. That 2019-20 season was again TDA’s best season. Of course this was helped by a career in goals, but DeAngelo had 53 points in 68 games. That number needs to be 60 for my expectations.

Sixty points with 20 goals leaves 40 assists to make up the difference. That is actually 1 less than TDA’s career best of 41 with Carolina in his first tour. Reasonable expectation? I think so.
If TDA were to hit this 60 point expectation, he would need to be scoring in roughly 73% of his games (and play a full season, which he has YET to do). Given his spot is (at the time of this writing) not certain, that is going to be a challenge for TDA to meet.

It goes without saying, his defense will need some improvement. Below is clip that keeps on giving, even in Finnish.

Finally and most importantly. Tony DeAngelo cannot be a jerk. At all. Zero stupid comments, political or otherwise. No bothersome locker room antics. Nothing. Not a peep.

My guess is, similar expectations were set by Rod Brind’Amour during DeAngelo’s first tour. With Carolina paying back the extra money, I think that sentiment is even heavier. Something tells me that if ANYONE around the Canes hears the slightest hint of anything resembling stupidity from Tony DeAngelo, he will have packed bags waiting on him at the door.

Not that my opinion matters, I still think these expectations have to be met by Tony DeAngelo to get many of his detractors off his back and the back of Don Waddell. $1.6 million is a lot to pay on a player NO ONE wanted. It’s a big gamble, and unless Tony DeAngelo shows he is in Carolina to play hockey and not be a moron, I think it is about $1.6 million too much.