Toronto Maple Leafs Should Pass on Free Star Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line is off to a good start this season, but given the consternation it’s caused over the last few years, you’d think the team would need to jump at any opportunity to grab depth.

Especially if that depth is at the rarest NHL position: right-hand shooting defenseman. And for the Toronto Maple Leafs (and 30 other teams) that is a real possibility right now.

That is because, after a rumored post-game altercation with a teammate, the New York Rangers have placed Tony DeAngelo on waivers.

That means that any team in the NHL can grab a 25 year old right-handed defenseman who is a borderline star player, for free.   Or, at least, the cost of a waiver claim plus said player’s salary ($4.5 million).

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, hey, the Leafs can’t afford that, and you’re probably right. Still, any chance to improve the team must be considered and if they liked a player enough, moving money out is at least potentially possible.   Tony DeAngelo scored an impressive 53 points last year in only 68 games, and if they were interested, and if they thought that would help their team, they could probably find a way.

But they must pass, and they will.

Toronto Maple Leafs Have No Interest

NHL/ hockey culture has it’s problems, but at least it tries (however superficially at times) to put a premium on honor and  character.  Leadership, character, being a good person etc. are all things that hockey teams (supposedly) care about.

And that means that Tony DeAngleo has some work to do before he can return to the league.  Suspended in junior for violating the ‘harassment  and diversity policy’ of the OHL, and prominent as a pro for publicly sharing his conspiracy theory ignorance and extreme views,  DeAngleo needs (at the very least) to be deprogrammed and/or educated before he can possibly be a good teammate.

Now, I don’t know or care why he got in a fight with a teammate, but in light of his Corona Virus denialism, his election lies, and just general disgusting behavior (including a rumored burner account to fight back against critics), it’s no wonder that only one participant of the dust-up was put on waivers.

Look: I don’t think NHL players need to be saints, and I’m not calling for some kind of purity test.  I also don’t care what someone’s political views are.  Tony DeAngelo, however,  does not share political views – he shares dangerous nonsense and uses his elevated platform to spread lies and conspiracies, the propagation of which are dangerous to society.

DeAngelo’s history of questionable behavior and hate-related suspensions, coupled with his outlandish beliefs and the propensity to share them is not something I want any team that I cheer for to associate with in any way.

So while a talented borderline star player is available for free, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to pass because for whatever talent upgrades he offers, DeAngelo doesn’t have the character needed to where the Blue and White.