Tony DeAngelo sets record in first season with the Hurricanes.

It isn't a story that hasn't been given a great deal of coverage over the course of the 2021 - 2022 National Hockey League regular season, but the Tony DeAngelo redemption arc has been an impressive one, one that has paid off in a major way for the Carolina Hurricanes.

On Saturday, DeAngelo continued that redemption arc when he earned himself a little bit of NHL history. DeAngelo set up both the Hurricanes' game tying goal and game winning goal for his 40th and 41st assists of the regular season, a Carolina Hurricanes single season record. The 40th assist was good enough to tie the record that had previously been set by former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen all the way back during the 2009 - 2010 regular season, and the 41st set DeAngelo alone at the top of the mountain with a record to call his very own.

Not only is the accomplishment an impressive one in its own right, but it becomes all the more impressive when you consider the context of this season for DeAngelo. First and foremost the 26 year old defenseman suffered a major injury earlier this year, one that has caused him to be limited to just 61 games so far this season. At his current pace DeAngelo likely would have eclipsed the record had he been capable of remaining healthy for the entire duration of the season.

Additionally DeAngelo was coming out of a difficult situation, one that had left him with quite the stigma attached to his name and reputation. DeAngelo was ousted by the New York Rangers in very public fashion last season and as a result signed just a 1 year deal with the Hurricanes this season, one that carries an average annual value and cap hit of just $1 million.

DeAngelo could have simply given up after his time with the Rangers destroyed his reputation, but instead he has turned the narrative around this season in Carolina and has likely lined himself up for a new contract, one that will come with significantly more salary and term, in the offseason as well.