Tony DeAngelo's first morning on Long Island consisted of a quick skate, a quick introduction to his new teammates, and getting ready to play in his first game in his new home.
It probably won't be the easiest path for DeAngelo to join a new team. DeAngelo was granted waivers Saturday at 2 p.m., making him officially eligible to play in the Islanders' game against Carolina.
But those are breaks.
“He seems like a good guy,” Jean-Gabriel Pageau said before the game. “He was tough to play against, but it's good to have him on our side. He's got grit and he definitely has the skill level with the puck. I think he's a great addition to the team.
“From what I've heard from other teams, he seems well-liked in the room. That's all I can say for now. I don't know enough about him yet.”
Given DeAngelo's reputation, both Pageau and Brock Nelson have been given credit by other players who played with him, and although it's a safe guess that Alexander Georgiev wasn't on this team. It's worth noting that you mentioned hearing that Angelo was a great teammate.
Most of the Islanders have played against DeAngelo, who played for the Rangers, Hurricanes and Flyers, but he won't have much involvement in the dressing room.
Aside from playing with Hudson Fassing at the 2015 World Juniors, DeAngelo didn't interact with anyone on the team during his career.
“Obviously, a right-handed D-man who sees the ice and is aggressive is someone who can fill that gap.” [Noah Dobson] I’m out,” Nelson said Friday night when the Islanders defeated the Flyers. “I played against him, he played hard, he's a competitor. I think he's fighting. As far as competition, I think he has a great level of competition. , I think he wants to win.
“I think he's the ultimate competitor. I've heard from some guys who know him. [who] We said we were going to love him. He's going to be great for us. ”
DeAngelo, who did not speak to reporters before Saturday's game, started the season in Russia and scored 32 points in 34 games with SKA St. Petersburg.
His return to the NHL came as a surprise to him, but it makes sense that the Islanders signed him to the league minimum contract to fill the gap after his contract was mutually terminated in Russia due to family issues. The injury to his right foot appears to be a long-term problem for Dobson, who was playing well.
At the very least, DeAngelo instantly looks like the best offensive defenseman in a suddenly Dobson-less lineup and figures to be the quarterback of the first power-play unit.
“I played penalty kill against him,” Pageau said. “He walks the line very well with the puck. And when he takes a shot or makes a pass, he has good deception, but when he skates with the puck, I think that's what he can bring. I think his hockey IQ is also very good, from playing against him. I think it can definitely help us.”
Heading into Saturday's game, the Islanders had won six of their last eight games to reach NHL .500.
Despite making the playoffs late in the season and getting off to a good start for their third straight season, the Islanders are still six points out of the spot, leaving seven teams to jump.
It is a common refrain that players who join the team midway through the season due to injuries or other situations like this one jump on a moving train.
If so, the Islander train cannot afford to slow down for anyone or anything. DeAngelo will need to catch up quickly.
“This is probably an easy group to get into,” Pageau said. “When I first came in, I thought this group was very easy to work with. You get comfortable. System-wise, I think instinct takes over a little bit at first, and then the structure and everything becomes more natural and spontaneous. ”
Still, he joked, “When I first came, we lost seven games in a row. Let's not go down that road.”
