Pundit says Tony DeAngelo open to taking a waiver to play with Edmonton Oilers – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers will be looking to make it back to the Stanley Cup finals this season and hope to win it rather than finish second. Their goal is clear as they had an exciting summer full of trades, offer sheets, and signings that solidified the program heading into the 2024-25 campaign. After losing both Philip Broberg and Cody Ceci, the Oilers have a bit of a hole on the right side of their blue line, and there have been rumors that they are looking to fill that hole with a professional tryout (PTO) contract or trade. . In a recent report regarding popular hockey expert Frank Seravalli, the Oilers may have an interesting defenseman willing to play for a low price. Tony DeAngelo, who is often criticized for his play on the ice, is a player Seravalli believes the Oilers should target, and he talks about DeAngelo as someone who can play a little bit if the opportunity arises.

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DeAngelo isn’t the first defenseman linked to the Oilers this season for Seravalli, but he seems to be the most intriguing. Along with Tyson Barrie, Justin Schultz, and Kevin Shattenkirk, DeAngelo joins the list of players all seeking new deals this offseason. Seravalli seems adamant that DeAngelo, despite his past struggles, will be a good fit for the Oilers. Those past issues may have been what turned the Oilers away from signing, but they have been known to be forgiving and give players another chance in the NHL, so it’s not out of the question.

The issue I’m talking about with DeAngelo happened during his time with the New York Rangers in the 2020-21 season. He and goaltender Alexander Georgiev reportedly got into an argument outside the team’s locker room on January 30, 2021 after an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next day the Rangers decided to place DeAngelo on waivers, dramatically changing his career path in an instant. DeAngelo admitted that he started the fight between the two, but played it down. He also admitted that he found out that he had been posted on social media. While he seemed willing to return his spot to the Rangers, then-GM Jeff Gorton announced that DeAngelo had played his last game as a Ranger.

DeAngelo Can Provide Solid Depth, But He’s Not The Best Option Available

The Oilers’ top priority heading into this season should be improving their top-four defense, especially getting a defensive partner for Darnell Nurse, and looking to spend the 2025 trade deadline to help fuel a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. . Since DeAngelo is willing to sign for the minimum, it might be a low-cost, high-reward option to bring him to training camp on a PTO and see how he does. It is good to think that DeAngelo will be in the third pairing next to Brett Kulak, thus suggesting the new acquisitions of Ty Emberson and Nurse, which does not really solve their problem.

Emberson will be a strong partner for Nurse and if he is the one who chooses a top four role to start the season, fans will be happy with what he can offer defensively. Unfortunately, defensive depth remains a concern after that, and Emberson is still young and unproven despite a strong showing in a small sample size with the San Jose Sharks last season. DeAngelo brings a solid offensive edge, but his defensive game is not something to be trifled with.

If the Oilers were looking for another offensive blue line, I would be on board to bring DeAngelo on a PTO, to see if he could fit in as a top defenseman. However, there are better options available considering what the Oilers need to do to improve. Schultz would be a good pick for the remaining free agents as his two-way game has been solid, and he played a lot of minutes with the Seattle Kraken last season. However, it is unknown where the Oilers will go.

With training camp fast approaching, the Oilers will soon need to make a decision on what to do before the new season. I would think it’s a given that they give a few PTOs to both forwards and a few defensemen and let them fight. There is an open spot on the right side of the blue line for Josh Brown, Troy Stecher, and whoever else they decide to bring into training camp to fight for. Hopefully, the Oilers can find a bargain that can help bring them their first Stanley Cup since 1990.