The Flames are conducting an investigation into Tony DeAngelo and have expressed at least a preliminary interest in the excommunicated Rangers defender, the Post confirmed.
Sam Bennett, the fourth overall selection of the 2014 draft, which has at least temporarily fallen out of use, is believed to have been a topic of conversation between the teams.
Bennett, who can play in the center or on the wing, was singled out as a healthy scratch for Flames’ departure in Winnipeg on Thursday, after registering just one point (an assist) in the first nine games. He played mainly on the wing, averaging 13:20 in a row with Mikael Backlund and Josh Leivo or Andrew Mangiapane.
According to sources, the Flames have not yet made the final decision to leave.
Calgary is among several teams that have asked about DeAngelo, who is on virtual taxi squad ground after releasing resignations after his Tussle in the Tunnel with Alexandar Georgiev after Rangers’ departure on Saturday night against the Penguins. Some, however, offered bad contracts in return. The Rangers have little or no interest in burdening themselves with an onerous obligation to get DeAngelo out of the organization.
Bennett, whom the Rangers would probably imagine as the second-tier right wing alongside Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome or his defined third-tier center, will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after this season in which he accounts for $ 2.55 million cap hit. Their number next season is likely to be in the range of $ 3 million to $ 3.3 million.
The 1.98m and 195lbs player, who plays in a straight line, unlike most current Rangers, registered 129 points (63-66) in 373 NHL games. Bennett set career records with 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points in his 2015-16 freshman season, but he never matched those numbers in any category. However, he won 53.6 percent of the 491 draws he has won in the past three seasons.
DeAngelo, of course, is three weeks in a two-year deal with an average annual value of $ 4.8 million. It is not known whether the Rangers would be forced to make up the difference – or more – by retaining part of their salary or by taking up another contract.
Several sources said that general manager Jeff Gorton has little interest or incentive at this point to accept excess money simply to speed up the process. There will be some pressure at some point, however, to move DeAngelo.
While it is true that he would be subject to a one-third purchase over the summer that would add just $ 383,333 of dead space to next year’s ledger and a reasonable $ 833,333 for the limit in 2022-23, it is not clear that the Rangers can simply keep him at home until the end of the season if they fail to strike a fair deal.
The team is working with DeAngelo’s representative, Pat Brisson of CAA, to help facilitate a negotiation, but at some point the process could become adversarial if the defender is kept out of the ice for a long period of time.
If Calgary’s interest is legitimate and the administration receives positive reports, it would probably be up to Flames to move quickly, as DeAngelo would be subject to a 14-day quarantine when crossing the border.