The Carolina Hurricanes signed controversial defenseman Anthony DeAngelo to a one-year contract worth $1M.

The Hurricanes Get: an honest-to-goodness elite offensive defenseman. Who has honest-to-goodness heavy baggage. Tony DeAngelo is known for his strong right-wing pro-Trump stance, and is quite vocal about it – riling up his teammates (on a couple of occasions it has gone to fisticuffs). He has a troubled past that includes two OHL suspensions for "contravening the rule which attempts to keep homophobic, racist, sexist, and the other derogatory language used by small minds – out of the game."

Fantasy Players Impacted: This can go one of two ways. DeAngelo can play hockey and keep his opinions to himself… or he can't. If it's the latter, then this signing will blow up in GM Don Waddell's face. A lot of fans and hockey people hate seeing an NHL team give DeAngelo a chance and aren't waiting to vocalize their feelings. If it's the former – then watch out. DeAngelo is only 25 and only now entering his prime. At 23 he posted 53 points in 68 games (64-point pace). If he works hard both on the ice and rehabbing his image off the ice, he has the upside to surpass that 64-point pace and flirt with 70. It's as big of a risk to draft in fantasy hockey as it is for Waddell in real hockey. But if it pays off, then Dougie Hamilton's incredible offense is now covered off.

My faith in this working out is less than 50/50, if you want my personal opinion. But it is possible. I'd go 30/70. And to be honest, if any coach in the entire league can straighten up an attitude and properly adjust a work ethic it's is Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. So I wouldn't bet the house against TDA resurrecting his image. Needless to say, this is DeAngelo's last chance, and there is literally tens of millions of dollars in career earnings on the line.

If this doesn't work out, it likely won't be determined until the 20- or 30-game mark as they give this time. So in the beginning, Ethan Bear and Jake Gardiner will miss out on tons of PP time. Prospect Joey Keane will likely not make the team. After that 30-game mark if this is deemed a failure? Then the latter three players get a bump at that time. However, if things work out then Gardiner will be spending a lot of time in the press box and Keane might be in the AHL all season long. I don't feel this impacts Jaccob Slavin as his role is established with a firm role on special teams.

Fantasy Players This Helps, In Order:

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