Trouba out 4-6 weeks, an opportunity for DeAngelo?

Still reeling from their ugly loss to the New Jersey Devils, the New York Rangers got more bad news when they learned that Jacob Trouba will be out four to six weeks with a broken thumb.  Add Trouba to the list of the walking wounded, though it appears that Artemi Panarin and K’Andre Miller will be good to go on Thursday against the Flyers.

The only Rangers not on the ice today were Trouba and Filip Chytil, both out with long term injuries.  Jack Johnson has resumed skating, though he is not ready to get back into the lineup.  That means that K’Andre Miller will probably be paired with Brendan Smith as the team is down to only one right shot defender in Adam Fox.

Brandon Crawley is the lone defender on the taxi squad and is a left shot.  Darren Raddysh is the only other defenseman under contract who shoots from the right side and he is in Hartford.  Oh, yes, there is one other guy.

An opportunity for DeAngelo?

Now that the defense is a shambles and the team is down to only Adam Fox from the right side, does this present an opportunity for Tony DeAngelo?    There is apparently no deal out there that the Rangers would be willing to take so he is just sitting at home.   Jeff Gorton categorically stated that DeAngelo had played his last game as a Ranger, but considering that he is still a skilled defenseman, could he persuade the team that he has reformed enough to be given another chance?

Strategically it would make sense for the Blueshirts to bring him back on an incredibly short leash.  If he plays well, he could increase his trade value, if the intent is to get rid of him.  If he can prove that he is mature enough to stay, he is still  one of the best offensive blueliners in the NHL. If he misbehaves he goes right back home awaiting a buyout which is his likely future right now.

The question is whether he would disrupt an already fragile hockey team.  The word has always been that he was popular among some players and tolerated by others.  He was a character and every team has them.  The issue is whether he is toxic to any of his teammates.

An comedy of errors

The Rangers have not handled this situation well.  Apparently, responsibility for DeAngelo’e behavior had been elevated above the coach level and was handled directly by Jeff Gorton.  That’s why the post game fight was strike three.   We’ll never know what it took to get to strike two in that relationship, but it had to be something between Gorton and DeAngelo.

No matter how you look at it, they have the fourth leading scoring defenseman in the NHL last season, sitting at home, losing value while they are paying him almost $4 million.  It’s a disaster.

Is it possible?

In sports, anything is possible.  In his interview with Larry Brooks of the New York Post, DeAngelo took responsibility for his behavior and said that he would not be playing the victim card.  He’s had a couple weeks to think about his ever diminishing future options and he must know that he had  a pretty good thing going in New York. Right now, his best option may be playing in Russia next season and that cannot be something he wants.

The question is whether DeAngelo has run out of options or whether he can persuade the team that he is worth another chance.  And the other question is whether Jeff Gorton is willing to go back on his pledge to waive him and give him that chance.

To be honest, the timing stinks coming right after the injury to Trouba.  It would make the Rangers look desperate and for that reason alone, Gorton may not be willing to do it.   But this is a team that cannot afford any more setbacks and if they were to take DeAngelo back, he wouldn’t be coming back as a savior, but as a reinforcement.

This is pure speculation and there may be no chance that it is even being considered.  But the Rangers are rapidly falling out of playoff contention and they are looking at the possibility of trying to get back into the mix with a diet of Jack Johnson, Brendan Smith, Tony Bitetto and Libor Hajek playing regularly while their top three defenders are a rookie and two second year players.

It’s just a thought.