You guys see DeAngelo as a piece that is getting traded rather than staying? I feel like him and Strome played themselves onto the team but I guess not.
I am one of ADA’s toughest critics, but there’s no way he’s trade bait this year. I mean, never say never, obviously; someone could always come with a godfather offer. But the points are simply too much to ignore.
The reason it comes up is because a) there is interest around the league; b) despite the offense, Tony still has significant flaws (witness the hotheaded display last night and the fact that he doesn’t PK); and c) the Rangers will have a pending cap issue with the RHD several years down the line.
IMO, the most likely outcome is that he stays, signs a 2- or 4-year RFA deal this summer, and then, somewhere down the line, one of the RHD is moved in a significant hockey trade —
at which point, I personally do believe it’ll be ADA who goes, due to his flaws, eventual cost, and the timing of younger players coming up behind him (though, of course, a lot can change over time).
(As for Strome, people are skeptical of his performance — despite the fact that he’s been doing it for a year now, including before Panarin arrived — because of all the bad years in EDM. Some of my fellow posters are firmly convinced the performance is a quirk of opportunity and destined to fade.)
