DeAngelo signs 1-year, $1.675 million contract with Hurricanes

Tony DeAngelo signed a one-year, $1.675 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.

The 27-year-old defenseman had 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) in 70 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, who bought out the final season of his two-year, $10 million contract July 15.

"Obviously, the coach (John Tortorella) and I wound up not fitting together, that was probably the main reason for me leaving the team and being a free agent again, the way it worked out," DeAngelo said Tuesday. "But at the same time, I also enjoyed playing in Philly if that makes any sense to you. It was a dream of mine since I was a little kid to play for the Flyers, so to be able to do that and spend a year there and be in Philly. … But it didn't work out and as soon as it wasn't working out, we kind of had an idea that if I was going to go anywhere it would be back to Carolina if possible, so I'm glad it worked out that way."

DeAngelo previously played with the Hurricanes during the 2021-22 season, when he had 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists) in 64 games. That season, he also set NHL career highs in plus/minus (plus-30) and power-play points (20) but was traded to the Flyers on July 8, 2022.

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"I think the way the team plays, it kind of fit my style more so than I ever have before," DeAngelo said. "I think there will be a lot of things different this time around I'm sure, but … I got along with (coach) Rod (Brind'Amour) more than I got along with any other coach that I played for in my career, but that's the kind of guy he is and I feel we're just a good match for one another and I just look forward to getting back to that situation."

DeAngelo is known for his offense but believes some of the best defensive-zone play of his NHL career came when he played for the Hurricanes.

"I actually thought the best defensively I've played was in Carolina," he said. "I thought the system was a little better for me to be able to attack guys and use my speed more than playing below the dots. Offensively my game has been coming along. Even last year, the points kind of took a dip back but I made a lot of plays. I wasn't as opportunistic as I was the year before, didn't score as many points, our power play wasn't as good and all that kind of stuff. Offensively I have no worries, but I continue to improve defensively, that's been the thing for years now. But there is still more and more levels to get to."

Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round (No. 19) of the 2014 NHL Draft, DeAngelo has 199 points (45 goals, 154 assists) in 340 regular-season games for the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Hurricanes and Flyers, and 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Tony is an elite offensive defenseman who had a great season with us in 2021-22," Carolina general manager Don Waddell said. "We wanted to re-sign him last summer, and now we're thrilled to bring him back to Raleigh."

NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report