Tony DeAngelo is back with the Islanders, and for both sides, that was the point.
The veteran defenseman signed a two-year deal worth $4.5 million annually on June 26, locking in his future on Long Island after what he called a straightforward negotiation. Speaking Monday for the first time since re-signing, DeAngelo said the process ended the way he wanted it to.
"That was good. It worked out good," DeAngelo said.
"I kind of went through it a little bit with Darchy there. It was a pretty good negotiation.
Obviously, we try to get as many years as you want. I might have asked him for a third.
But it was good. I’m really happy to be back.
It’s where I wanted to be. The team’s been good to me, so I’m glad we could do two more years.”
The Islanders clearly value what he brings, and not just on the scoreboard. DeAngelo’s ability to skate the puck out of danger and jump-start the attack became a major part of their structure last season. When he missed time late in the year, the team’s organization on the ice took a hit.
Captain Bo Horvat made it plain how much DeAngelo meant to the room and the roster.
"I was so happy when we signed him back," Islanders captain Bo Horvat said. "He’s a great guy off the ice, everybody loves him in the room but he's a great player too.
He moves the puck so well. He’s elusive.
His offensive abilities are what we need back there. He was a huge add to our team.
Really happy we kept him.”
That kind of skill set fits what DeBoer wants from his defense. Speed, puck movement and a roster built to push play forward all matter, and DeAngelo checks those boxes in a way that gives the Islanders flexibility.
"It's really important. I like to play the game fast.
I like to play the game on our toes and offensively," DeBoer said. " When you just think about the fact that you have to have two power-play defensemen on your roster because if one goes down, what do you do otherwise?
He checks a lot of boxes for us.”
DeAngelo isn’t treating the new deal like a finish line, though. He says there’s still more in his game to unlock.
“The motivation doesn’t stop," DeAngelo said. "I actually don’t even think I’ve been anywhere near where I can get to last year.
It was good, but it wasn’t as good as it’s been in the past. There’s still another level to get to.”
In 76 games last season, his first full season with Islanders, DeAngelo posted 35 points with five goals and 30 assists while averaging 19:08 per game. He spent most of his 5-on-5 time with Adam Pelech, a pairing that helped shape his role in the lineup.
In Other News...
Islanders Prospect Quinn Finley Faces A Big First-Season Question
Quinn Finley is in the middle of his first Islanders rookie camp, and the early focus is less on what he can do than on how quickly he can get back to full hockey activity. The forward is coming off shoulder surgery, a setback that has already slowed the start of his first season in the organization and made this camp more about monitoring progress than pushing for immediate competition.
For the Islanders, the bigger question now is how Finleys recovery shapes the next step in his development, especially with rookie camp serving as the first real checkpoint after surgery. He is participating, but the contact piece remains the hurdle, and until that changes, his path this fall will stay more about patience than projection. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Have One Leadership Decision Left After Bo Horvats Promotion
Bo Horvats promotion to captain has given the Islanders a more defined hierarchy, but it has also left one opening to sort through as the season approaches. With Horvat becoming the 16th captain in franchise history, the club now has a chance to choose an alternate who can help carry some of the day-to-day leadership load around a roster that is still shaping its identity.
Mat Barzal is one option, and his name naturally stands out because he has never worn a permanent letter before. Matthew Schaefer brings a different kind of intrigue after a Calder Trophy-winning season that suggested his voice carries well beyond his age, while Brayden Schenn adds veteran credibility to a room that values experience. However the Islanders decide to go, the last captaincy piece is less about ceremony than about who they trust to set the tone behind Horvat. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Just Sent A Big Message About Bo Horvat
The Islanders have made their latest leadership call around Bo Horvat, a player who arrived in 2023 and quickly became one of the most important figures in the room. Since joining the club, he has been an alternate captain and has set the pace offensively, while bringing the kind of experience that comes from a notable NHL career and time representing Canada on the international stage.
Now the organization is officially putting the weight of the crest on him in a bigger way, a sign of how quickly he has earned trust since landing on Long Island. For a team looking for steadiness and a clear voice, the move says plenty about where Horvat stands within the group, even if the full impact of the decision will play out only as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]