NHL Rumors: Tony DeAngelo not returning to Rangers, Marc Bergevin talking future with Canadiens owners, and more
Anthony Scultore
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The offseason NHL Rumors Mill has begun churning. One player that has been discussed quite often this year is defenseman Tony DeAngelo. The mercurial player was exiled by the Rangers just a few weeks into the season. After warning him to be on his best behavior, he and teammate Alexandar Georgiev were involved in a dust up after an OT loss to the Penguins. He was placed on waivers and has been skating on his own awaiting his fate.
Tony DeAngelo return to the Rangers not happening
I spoke with DeAngelo shortly after the dismissals of both John Davidson and Jeff Gorton on Wednesday. When I asked if he thought this was an opportunity to return he replied, “I am not sure.”
“I loved playing in NYR. Loved the organization, really loved the fans but I honestly have no clue if this will change anything,” he continued. “As long as I am part of the organization my phone would always be on.”
A few days after I spoke with the 25 year-old exiled blue-liner, Larry Brooks put an end to that possibility. “A reliable source reports that the change in administrations will have no effect on Tony DeAngelo’s status,” he wrote in the NY Post. The next expected steps for him will be exposure in the expansion draft followed by a 1/3 buyout of his contract.
As to his outlook for playing in the NHL, DeAngelo remains confident. “I can bring a lot to a team,” he said. “I look forward and hopeful for the opportunity and I will make the most of it. In the meantime, I’m just training and treating this like a normal offseason.”
It was believed that the Canadiens were interested in signing him had DeAngelo agreed to a contract termination. The defenseman did not, so it remains to be seen if Montreal would sign him after the buyout. Whatever team does bring in the offensively gifted DeAngelo will do so with some risk, and public relations headaches.
Marc Bergevin talking future with Canadiens owners
On the latest Saturday Headlines, Elliotte Friedman said that Habs GM Marc Bergevin started conversations with ownership on his future.
“Marc Bergevin and the owner Geoff Molson have been kind of talking about the future; how the owner feels, how the general manager feels, if there is an extension what it could potentially look like,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday Headlines on Hockey Night in Canada. “So we’ll see where those decisions go and where those conversations go, but I think they are underway about the GM’s future with the Canadiens.”
Sportsnet
While conversation have begun, I don’t believe any real determination will come until the team makes the playoffs. Then it will probably be based on how far they go if Bergevin is extended.
Coyotes expected to interview almost a dozen candidates
The Arizona Coyotes and Rick Tocchet just parted ways and it sounds like the Yotes are wasting no time in getting a replacement. According to Pierre LeBrun they are likely to reach out to Lane Lambert, Nate Leaman, and Rocky Thompson.