Tony DeAngelo Bio
Anthony “Tony” DeAngelo is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). A right-handed shot listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 180 pounds, he has suited up for the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL, and spent part of one season with SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014, DeAngelo has built a reputation as an offense-first defenseman whose playmaking and power-play skills have been central to his career.
Early Life and Background
DeAngelo was born on October 24, 1995, in Sewell, New Jersey, shortly after his family moved to the area, and he grew up in nearby Washington Township as the youngest of four siblings. He began playing minor ice hockey at the Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell and also competed in baseball and basketball as a youth. In addition to playing for the Mercer Chiefs of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League, he appeared in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament representing a Philadelphia Flyers minor hockey affiliate.
His paternal grandfather, Lou, was a steady presence during his early years, driving him to and from the local rink and supporting his development as a young player. Coaches and family members described him as highly competitive, a trait that became visible in his approach to the game from an early age. By his early teens, DeAngelo was determined to pursue hockey at a higher level and began exploring junior opportunities outside of South Jersey.
Path to Hockey
At the age of 14, DeAngelo left Washington Township to join the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL), becoming the youngest player in USHL history and often skating against college-age opponents. In 28 games during the 2010–11 USHL season, he recorded one goal and 14 assists before suffering a broken patella while blocking a slapshot against the Des Moines Buccaneers, ending his season in January 2011.
Following his performance in the USHL, the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selected him 24th overall in the second round of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection Draft, and he chose to sign with Sarnia for a faster path to professional hockey. After a 23-point rookie season in 2011–12, he broke out with 58 points in 62 games in 2012–13, fifth-highest for Sarnia that year, and then led all OHL defensemen with 71 points in 2013–14. Going into the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he was ranked the No. 10 North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and played in the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Tony DeAngelo Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
The Tampa Bay Lightning selected DeAngelo 19th overall in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on December 2, 2014. In January 2015, the Sting traded him to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he finished the 2014–15 season with 89 points in 55 games, leading all OHL defensemen in scoring and earning both the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman and the CHL Defenceman of the Year award.
Assigned to the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, in 2015, DeAngelo produced six goals and 37 assists in 69 AHL games during the 2015–16 season, though he was also a healthy scratch for eight games during the year. On June 25, 2016, during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Tampa Bay traded him to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for the 37th overall pick, used to select defenseman Libor Hájek.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2016–2017)
After being recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners to replace an injured Michael Stone, DeAngelo made his NHL debut on November 8, 2016, scoring his first NHL goal on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard in a 4–2 win, and added his first NHL assist later that week on a goal by Radim Vrbata against the Boston Bruins. On January 1, 2017, he received a three-game suspension for physical assault of a referee during a loss to the Calgary Flames and forfeited nearly $14,389 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. He finished his rookie NHL season with five goals and nine assists in 39 games before being traded to the New York Rangers on June 23, 2017, in a package that sent Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona.
New York Rangers Era (2017–2021)
DeAngelo split his first Rangers season between New York and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, finishing 2017–18 with eight assists in 32 NHL games after a midseason recall prompted by Kevin Shattenkirk’s knee injury. He showed meaningful progress in 2018–19, posting 30 points in 61 games while tying Kevin Shattenkirk and Mats Zuccarello for third on the team in assists, although he also led the Rangers with 77 penalty minutes and was a healthy scratch for roughly 20 games under coach David Quinn.
After signing a one-year, $925,000 deal in September 2019, DeAngelo enjoyed a breakout 2019–20 campaign with 53 points in 68 games, fourth among all NHL defensemen, and scored a hat trick against the New Jersey Devils on January 9, 2020, becoming the first Rangers defenseman to record a hat trick since Reijo Ruotsalainen in 1982. On October 15, 2020, the Rangers signed him to a two-year, $9.6 million extension, but his tenure unraveled during the 2020–21 season following a physical altercation with goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, after which general manager Jeff Gorton said DeAngelo had “played his last game for the Rangers.” On July 23, 2021, the Rangers placed him on unconditional waivers and bought out the remainder of his contract.
Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and KHL Stint (2021–2025)
On July 28, 2021, the Carolina Hurricanes signed DeAngelo to a one-year, $1 million contract, and he quickly quieted early criticism with eight points in his first seven games before recording his first Gordie Howe hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 30, 2021. On July 8, 2022, Carolina traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers along with multiple draft picks, and he signed a two-year, $10 million contract the same day before receiving a two-game suspension in March 2023 for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Corey Perry.
Philadelphia placed DeAngelo on waivers for a buyout on July 14, 2023, making him the first player in NHL history to be bought out twice. He returned to Carolina on a one-year deal on July 24, 2023, and then signed a one-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL on September 23, 2024. With SKA, DeAngelo added 6 goals and 32 points in 34 regular-season appearances and was selected for the KHL All-Star Game before the club and player mutually agreed to terminate his contract on January 14, 2025, citing family reasons.
New York Islanders Era (2025–Present)
On January 24, 2025, the New York Islanders signed DeAngelo to a one-year, league-minimum contract for the remainder of the 2024–25 NHL season after he returned to North America as a free agent. On July 1, 2025, the Islanders signed him to another one-year contract for the 2025–26 NHL season, keeping the veteran defenseman in their organization as they continue to lean on his offensive game.
Driving Style and Strengths
DeAngelo is widely regarded as an offensive-minded defenseman whose playmaking has been described as “world-class” by former Rangers coach David Quinn. The bulk of his production has come through assists, and he has been a fixture on the power play throughout his career, ranking third on the Rangers in power-play points in 2019–20 behind Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. Defensive play has been the most consistent critique of his game, a factor that contributed to his trade out of Tampa Bay and to his use as a healthy scratch at various points of his NHL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of DeAngelo’s career is his January 9, 2020 hat trick against the New Jersey Devils, a feat no Rangers defenseman had accomplished since Reijo Ruotsalainen in 1982. He also became the first player in NHL history to be bought out of his contract twice when Philadelphia terminated his deal in 2023, and he earned both the Max Kaminsky Trophy and the CHL Defenceman of the Year award in 2014–15.
Tony DeAngelo Career Wins
DeAngelo’s career is defined less by traditional wins than by offensive production from the blueline, individual awards, and milestones with multiple franchises. Across the OHL, AHL, NHL, and KHL, he has been a consistent point-producer rather than a top goal-scoring defenseman.
OHL and Junior Highlights
In his draft year with the Sarnia Sting, DeAngelo led all OHL defensemen in scoring with 71 points and was ranked the No. 10 North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. After a midseason trade to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2014–15, he accumulated 89 points in 55 games, captured the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman, and was named CHL Defenceman of the Year, becoming only the fourth Greyhound to win the Max Kaminsky Trophy.
Other Wins & Performances
DeAngelo represented the United States at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, registering three assists in the final game, and played for the U.S. junior team at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he scored against both Canada and Russia. He also participated in the Checking for Charity tournament in South Jersey, including an edition alongside NHL players Adam Fox, Joel Farabee, and Oliver Wahlstrom.
Tony DeAngelo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
DeAngelo grew up as the youngest of four siblings in Washington Township, New Jersey, after his family moved to Sewell shortly before his birth. His paternal grandfather, Lou, was especially influential during his youth hockey years and routinely drove him to and from the Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell for practices and games.
Personal Life
DeAngelo has been active in charitable work, raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project through the Checking for Charity tournament in 2018 and 2021. He has also been a frequent social media user throughout his NHL career, engaging fans on Twitter and Instagram before deactivating his Twitter account and joining the conservative platform Parler in 2021.
2025 Season Performance
DeAngelo joined the New York Islanders on January 24, 5, 2025, on a one-year, league-minimum contract after his KHL stint with SKA Saint Petersburg ended, giving him a chance to re-establish himself in the NHL on a contending roster. He spent the remainder of the 2024–25 season contributing offensive depth from the back end as the Islanders pushed for a playoff position.
On July 1, 2025, the Islanders rewarded that late-season showing with a new one-year contract for the 2025–26 NHL campaign, signaling their continued belief in his playmaking ability and power-play value. DeAngelo is expected to remain a power-play option and depth contributor on the Islanders’ blue line, with his offensive ceiling balanced against questions about defensive consistency and discipline.
His outlook for 2025–26 hinges on staying healthy, earning a regular spot in the lineup, and providing the kind of point production that defined his best Rangers seasons. With a stable team situation and a short-term deal, DeAngelo has a clear opportunity to extend his NHL career and potentially play his way into longer-term plans on Long Island.
