The Carolina Hurricanes are nearing a deal to reacquire defenseman Tony DeAngelo from the Philadelphia Flyers, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The Flyers would retain 50% of DeAngelo's $5-million cap hit and would receive a prospect in return, adds LeBrun. The swap will likely be finalized Sunday.
DeAngelo spent the 2021-22 campaign in Carolina and put up 10 goals and 51 points in 64 games. He played out the bulk of that season on a pair with Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes controlled 67.2% of the goals and 60.3% of the expected goals with the duo on the ice at five-on-five, according to Evolving Hockey.
Carolina traded DeAngelo and a 2022 seventh-rounder to the Flyers last July in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick. He was a pending restricted free agent at the time and signed a two-year, $10-million extension with Philadelphia soon after.
DeAngelo led all Philadelphia defensemen with 42 points in 70 games this campaign, but he was also a team-worst minus-27 while averaging 22 minutes of ice time per contest.
His minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement was also the worst mark among all NHL skaters in 2022-23.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella scratched DeAngelo for the last five games of the season. DeAngelo said he respected the veteran bench boss but called the decision "ridiculous."
Tortorella said in February that the Flyers needed to work with DeAngelo on his defensive game, adding that his struggles in his own zone stuck out more in Philadelphia than in Carolina.
The Hurricanes may be adding a familiar face to their blue line for the new season, but another one may be on the way out.
Carolina will reportedly trade rearguard Brett Pesce this offseason if the two sides can't agree on an extension. Pesce can become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.
Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.