Arizona Coyotes Trade 37th Pick To Lightning For Anthony DeAngelo
The Arizona Coyotes traded their compensatory second round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for 2014 first round pick Anthony DeAngelo.
After some fan consternation regarding their surprise pick of Clayton Keller last night, the Arizona Coyotes got back on track with defenseman Jakob Chychrun at 16th and continued that defensive tear into Saturday’s portion of the draft.
The Yotes acquired forward Conner Bleackley at the trade deadline as part of the Mikkel Boedker trade.
By not signing Bleackley and allowing him to re-enter the draft, John Chayka was able to secure a compensatory second round draft pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Chayka traded that compensatory pick, 37th overall, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for former 2014 first round pick Anthony DeAngelo.
DeAngelo arrives in Arizona as a productive and effective right-handed defenseman, as well as a potential candidate to immediately begin to shore up the team’s severe lack of viable options on the right-hand side of the blue-line at the NHL level.
Anthony DeAngelo played in 69 games for the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL last season. He scored 6 goals and chipped in 37 assists for 43 total points, but also found himself healthy scratched eight times due to attitude issues and undisciplined play.
He’s had two incidents of verbal abuse – one with a teammate, another with an official – which resulted in suspension while he played junior hockey. It’s fair to surmise that DeAngelo’s passion may make him a bit of a hot-head.
A highly skilled, dynamic puck-moving hot-head, however, and I’m sure the latter is what John Chayka and Head Coach Dave Tippett were looking at when they decided to make this move.
For DeAngelo the chance to start over again with a new organization may be just what he needs.
“I wish things could have been different but I think this is better for all involved,” said Anthony’s father Lou DeAngelo to the Tampa Bay Times. “We are thankful for the opportunity… We were looking for an opportunity to play in the NHL sooner rather than later.”
That chance to play, provided he can keep his attitude in check, may arrive as early as this fall in Glendale.
The Arizona Coyotes have relatively slim pickings on the blue-line when it comes to right-handed defenseman, and DeAngelo has proven effective at the AHL level.
Being in camp in Arizona this fall will also afford revered captain Shane Doan and the rest of the Coyotes leadership the chance to get their mitts on Anthony DeAngelo.
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The outcome remains to be seen, but Chayka’s gamble seems like a smart one for an Arizona Coyotes team struggling on the blue-line at every level.
DeAngelo is a dynamic player. He just needs to learn a bit of self-control. Perhaps a chance to make the NHL this fall is just the motivation he needs.