Oilers linked to controversial player for desired boost on the blue line

Reports hint at the Oilers looking for another boost on the back end and, recently, a controversial defenseman has been linked to Edmonton. Changes have already been made in Edmonton as not only did the club trade away defenseman Cody Ceci and a third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for Ty Emberson, but it also lost out on Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway via offer sheets with the St. Louis Blues.

Frank Seravalli recently spoke about the possibility of the Oilers and new general manager Stan Bowman looking into Tony DeAngelo as a potential addition to the roster. While the insider acknowledged some of the 28-year-old’s previous personal baggage, he still believes DeAngelo could be a better option than other names that have been mentioned in the rumour mill in Edmonton in Justin Schultz, Tyson Barrie and Kevin Shattenkirk.

Talking with Cam Moon and Brenden Escott on Oilers Now, Seravalli said: “The Oilers have options. They are pursuing those options. There are other things that Edmonton is looking at I think, including a potential trade that could shake things up a little bit more than just maybe the PTO route.”

He added that: “The thing is it’s so fluid right now. I think there are seven different scenarios that Stan Bowman and his staff are probably looking at. They’re looking at a lot of different options around the league.”

It is hard to deny however that DeAngelo isn’t a controversial target with his loaded past. He was waived by the New York Rangers in 2021 after he provoked a fist fight with teammate Alexandar Georgiev, though the blue liner did admit to being a hot head back then.

Currently a free agent after becoming (at the time) the first player in NHL history to be bought out from two separate contracts, DeAngelo appeared in 197 total games for the Rangers, racking up 92 points. He’s also played two stints with the Carolina Hurricanes along with the Philadelphia Flyers.