Player Discussion Tony DeAngelo - Part II

[Levitate]

Not the Pionk thread but I think you still want to keep him and try to keep developing him. He's young, he has tools, the point is to try to find the right fit for him. I don't think he's the all around top pairing defenseman the Rangers have tried him out as, but if he can improve parts of his game and not try to play like he's the next McDonagh then he can still be a good player.

Bottom line is that the Rangers have zero top pairing defensemen right now and a whole lot of bottom four guys at best but someone is going to have to play more minutes at times.

 

[Rempe73]

this is why we cant have anything nice. i'll never understand the deangelo hate. we're given a talented offensive defenseman, but we trash him and rip into him and then complain we dont have an offensive talent on the backend when hes gone.

the kid isnt big enough to dominate anyone, he wont block many shots, but you cant say he backs down. he's always in someones face during a scrum. hes made signifigant strides with his dzone awareness, and he plays with a smart stick in his own end. one hand pushing on guy constantly to knock him off balance or control him for a hit/pin, and the other hand on his stick poking at puck.

yes, for god sake, he will have the odd turnover up the middle when we tries to makes the high % plays, but we're gonna have to deal with that. i've personally had enough of the affection for defensemen who wont take a risk if their life depended on it. as much as i loved girardi and think staal has been better this season, we need some variety on the back end. we need some risk takers that are going to create offense from the backend out, even if it comes back to bite us sometime. he's made progress in picking and choosing his spots, and it is an ongoing process where he will continue to get better.

in the live game chat last night we were talking about how his biggest strength are his outlet passes, and heads up plays in our own end. we havent had a guy that has as much poise and smarts in his own end since yandle, and losing him was one of this frnachises biggest mistakes imo.

cant we just appreciate when we have something good for once, because deangelo is f***ing talented, and he needs to be given big minutes with the right players (ahem PP1, it's deserved), because thats his role he's going to be succesful in.

end rant

I can’t think of many things the guy can’t do.

Very good at keeping possession
Has a good wrister
Amazing at breakout passes
Great at puck moving in general
Very good on the power play
Great skater
Very good vision
Very aggressive and always willing to fight
Plays pretty good defense, as we have seen over the past 3-4 games and at the beginning of the year
Good at stick checking
Solid at body checking

The only real problem with him is that sometimes his awareness isn’t very good. It’s weird. Some games I’ve seen him do well in that aspect of the game, and other games, he has mental lapses. Other than that, the only minor problems with him are a lack of strength, a lack of discipline, and lack of a good slap shot. I would also add that he isn’t a great shot blocker, but he doesn’t need to be if we have the puck at the other end of the ice.

 

[Levitate]

The only real problem with him is that sometimes his awareness isn’t very good. It’s weird. Some games I’ve seen him do well in that aspect of the game, and other games, he has mental lapses. Other than that, the only minor problems with him are a lack of strength, a lack of discipline, and lack of a good slap shot. I would also add that he isn’t a great shot blocker, but he doesn’t need to be if we have the puck at the other end of the ice.

I think sometimes guys who are always looking for the aggressive play and having "great vision" over think or make bad decisions because they're trying to make that wow play, which is what happens with DeAngelo sometimes.

Kinda the same with Zucc who makes a lot of what seem to be braindead offensive zone plays at times but then you get plays like the between the legs assist to Zibanejad last night, or just generally passes that find their way through a maze of players right onto the stick of a teammate for an open net tap in...there's a lot of skill and vision to try to make that pass right on the stick but it's still a low percentage play with at LOT of luck to make it through everyone

 

[True Blue]

play him.

that is all

At the post-game press conference, Quinn indicated that essentially it is up to DeAngelo to see if he is going to be in the line up or not. Would not disclose anything, but said that he has clearly communicated to him what he needs to do to stay in the line up.

Again, if Quinn wants him to do X and he does X, he will stay. If he does X+/- 1m then he will be scratched again. I think that Quinn is willing to live with mistakes if they are mistakes of playing the way he wants.

 

[True Blue]

I can’t think of many things the guy can’t do.

Very good at keeping possession
Has a good wrister
Amazing at breakout passes
Great at puck moving in general
Very good on the power play
Great skater
Very good vision
Very aggressive and always willing to fight
Plays pretty good defense, as we have seen over the past 3-4 games and at the beginning of the year
Good at stick checking
Solid at body checking

This is not a derogatory slant on your pose, but you ask of many things that he can't do. Clearly, he was not doing whatever it is that Quinn wanted him to do for much of this season.

 

[McRanger]

At the post-game press conference, Quinn indicated that essentially it is up to DeAngelo to see if he is going to be in the line up or not. Would not disclose anything, but said that he has clearly communicated to him what he needs to do to stay in the line up.

Again, if Quinn wants him to do X and he does X, he will stay. If he does X+/- 1m then he will be scratched again. I think that Quinn is willing to live with mistakes if they are mistakes of playing the way he wants.

If X="clearly be one of the six best defenseman on this crappola team", which is the only thing that should matter when choosing a lineup, then ADA has been doing X all season.

 

[mulli25]

If X="clearly be one of the six best defenseman on this crappola team", which is the only thing that should matter when choosing a lineup, then ADA has been doing X all season.

At this stage in the rebuild game, I disagree with the bold.

Quinn is trying to establish the rules of the road for this team going forward, and rightfully so. It'd be one thing if we're on the upswing, trying to make a run at it, but we're not. Setting the tone for how the team is going to approach the game for the foreseeable future is very important.

 

[True Blue]

If X="clearly be one of the six best defenseman on this crappola team", which is the only thing that should matter when choosing a lineup, then ADA has been doing X all season.

Apparently, to Quinn has his definition of what X is. It seems to differ from yours. So until DeAngelo does X and nothing but X, his time in the line up will be spotty.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

I can’t think of many things the guy can’t do.

Very good at keeping possession
Has a good wrister
Amazing at breakout passes
Great at puck moving in general
Very good on the power play
Great skater
Very good vision
Very aggressive and always willing to fight
Plays pretty good defense, as we have seen over the past 3-4 games and at the beginning of the year
Good at stick checking
Solid at body checking

The only real problem with him is that sometimes his awareness isn’t very good. It’s weird. Some games I’ve seen him do well in that aspect of the game, and other games, he has mental lapses. Other than that, the only minor problems with him are a lack of strength, a lack of discipline, and lack of a good slap shot. I would also add that he isn’t a great shot blocker, but he doesn’t need to be if we have the puck at the other end of the ice.

Things ADA needs to work on:

-Emotional intelligence
-Slapshot
-One-timer
-Clearing bodies in front of his net

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

ADA can develop into a Keith Yandle type top 4 dman... Thats worth using this "lost" season to test out

 

[McRanger]

Apparently, to Quinn has his definition of what X is. It seems to differ from yours. So until DeAngelo does X and nothing but X, his time in the line up will be spotty.

You are certainly correct.

I just think its counter productive to expect improvement from one defenseman and not seem to care whether the other defenseman are horrible. I would like to think at some point Quinn told McQuad and Smith "stop being so awful" and they seem to be ignoring him. Logically that would be bigger of a problem than ADA ignoring whaever "X" is.

Like I've said before, I dont see how icing an inferior lineup helps the team on the ice or with the concept of accountability.

 

[True Blue]

Things ADA needs to work on:

-Emotional intelligence
-Slapshot
-One-timer
-Clearing bodies in front of his net

Do you believe that a lack in those areas has prevented Quinn from dressing him more?

 

[Blue Blooded]

Things ADA needs to work on:

-Emotional intelligence
-Slapshot
-One-timer
-Clearing bodies in front of his net

Maybe he wasn't clearing out bodies, but he stopped two point-blank chances in a matter of seconds last night:

 

[Inferno]

If X="clearly be one of the six best defenseman on this crappola team", which is the only thing that should matter when choosing a lineup, then ADA has been doing X all season.

You have to balance what a player is now versus what he could become if you get him to play a certain way.

Maybe they think throwing him out there will stunt his development and benching him with clear goals in mind will help him be even better.

Who knows. Just wish..well I wish we did know lol

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Do you believe that a lack in those areas has prevented Quinn from dressing him more?

No. I am as big of a fan of ADA as there is. I'm just saying he isnt a finished product.

 

[Inferno]

I think deangelos biggest issue in his own zone is puck watching...it happens often enough that I notice it

Every defenseman does it but he does it enough that I see it as a weakness.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Maybe he wasn't clearing out bodies, but he stopped two point-blank chances in a matter of seconds last night:

Yes, his shot blocking and stick play have improved 100% since last year. Thats why i argue he must play everygame..

 

[True Blue]

I just think its counter productive to expect improvement from one defenseman and not seem to care whether the other defenseman are horrible.

Smith has been scratched more than enough time. Quinn is a pretty good communicator. He has clearly communicated with is expected and what is non-negotiable. Apparently somewhere within there, DeAngelo has either a) not done what Quinn communicated to him he needs to do or b) tried to negotiate the non-negotiable.

I would like to think at some point Quinn told McQuad and Smith "stop being so awful" and they seem to be ignoring him.

I would doubt that.

Logically that would be bigger of a problem than ADA ignoring whaever "X" is.

I think that anyone who does not listen to what is demanded of them , finds themselves scratched. Clearly DeAngelo either understood and choose to do his thing anyway or did not listen when the lesson was being taught.

Like I've said before, I dont see how icing an inferior lineup helps the team on the ice or with the concept of accountability.

Quinn is building a culture. Part of that culture is what he communicates to the players about what they need to do and they way they need to play. If ADA has decided at times this season that those rules do not apply to him, Quinn has to show that he holds people accountable. Building a culture on a team like this is pretty important. Or rebuilding, that is.

 

[True Blue]

No. I am as big of a fan of ADA as there is. I'm just saying he isnt a finished product.

There we agree. I think the kid is talented. I also thin that his eagerness to to what is being told to him is lacking at time. I think that is what gets him into trouble.

 

[Rongomania]

We shouldn’t have to trade either one.

RD depth is so unheard of for us that we just can’t accept having both.

 

[offdacrossbar]

whatever quinn wants his to do more of, it seems to me if he plays like he did last night and even the last few games, hes doing just fine. stop scratching him already. quinn is starting to grind on me.

again, as long as hes well liked in the room, plays the part of a good teammate and helps the team win, i could care less if hes ryan mcdonagh or sean avery. theo fleury, matt barnaby and mark messier were always choir boys on and off the ice.

being an effective hockey player to me his whats most important. period.

enough of all this crap about him being toxic or whatever. let him play.

let him be emotional and edgy. let him yap and flap his trap. as long as hes not hurting the team- anymore than when 44 or 42 try to pay defense, give him some rope. penalties happen and emotions can take over. who wants to be a robot ?

one more thing, I've seen BLATANT fouls against 77, i mean obvious no calls- and i believe its his rep for bumping an official few yrs ago with the yotes. kids got a rep and he gets penalized for that by the refs. whatever. just play.

let him play.

 

[Rempe73]

This is not a derogatory slant on your pose, but you ask of many things that he can't do. Clearly, he was not doing whatever it is that Quinn wanted him to do for much of this season.

I also said there were a few things he didn’t do well. And bad discipline is probably one of the main things that Quinn scratched him for.

 

[Rempe73]

Yes, his shot blocking and stick play have improved 100% since last year. Thats why i argue he must play everygame..

Yupp. His stick play is actually very good. And while his shot blocking is not great, it’s still pretty decent, in my opinion.

 

[Rempe73]

No. I am as big of a fan of ADA as there is. I'm just saying he isnt a finished product.

And even if he doesn’t improve much more, I still think he’s a very good player.

 

[Vinny DeAngelo]

Yupp. His stick play is actually very good. And while his shot blocking is not great, it’s still pretty decent, in my opinion.

His defensive play is definitely better than Shattenshooks