Tony DeAngelo has reached the waiver limit.
Rangers put the defense on hold on Sunday, the team announced, the day after DeAngelo was on the ice for four goals in the 5-4 defeat by the Penguins in overtime.
DeAngelo did not skate with Rangers during Sunday afternoon practice, as a mix of Brendan Smith, Anthony Bitetto and Libor Hajek formed the third defensive duo.
Coach David Quinn declined to elaborate when asked whether the decision to resign from DeAngelo was strictly based on performance.
“It’s a decision we made as an organization,” said Quinn on Sunday after training. “In 24 hours, we’ll probably be a little more specific and approach the situation differently.”
Quinn was also asked about rumors on social media that an incident involving DeAngelo may have happened after Saturday night’s game.
“There are always rumors, so I’m not going to address the rumors,” said Quinn. “It is not an incident, it is not about a thing. This is a situation that the organization felt was the best at the moment. We will see how the situation unfolds. “
Quinn had put 25-year-old DeAngelo on the bench for the second game of the season, after suffering a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in the third period for slamming the penalty box door and shouting at the referees after being hit by a penalty. containment. He also missed out on the next game before returning to the roster in the last five games.
DeAngelo, to whom Rangers gave a two-year contract worth $ 9.6 million in October, played at 20:28 on Saturday night while teaming up with Smith, who stayed on the bench for the entire third term.
“Things happen in professional sports and that was a decision the organization made,” said Quinn. “We will see how the exemption situation unfolds.”