Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Anthony Deangelo poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number nineteen overall pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Lightning has drafted defenseman Anthony DeAngelo with the 19th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
DeAngelo has spent the last three seasons in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting. Last year, he recorded 71 points (15 goals) in 51 games.
He is the best offensive defenseman in the NHL Draft but he comes with severe character issues.
Last season, the 18-year-old was suspended on two separate occasions. The first was for violating the OHL’s harassment and abuse/diversity policy (the second time in his career that that’s happened), and the second was for verbally abusing an official.
There's your home run swing. MAJOR character issues. Major. But a phenomenal offensive righty defenseman.
— Bolt Prospects (@BoltProspects) June 28, 2014
“We think he can be a top 4 defenseman in the NHL,” Bolts GM Steve Yzerman told TSN. “We think this is a young man with great potential … he’s going to have to change if he wants to make it as a professional hockey player.”
Yzerman added in the interview that Lightning did their research on his character issues and said they are happy with what they found.
However, on the ice, DeAngelo is a stud. He’s a dynamic offensive defenseman who will put up points for fun.
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button described DeAngelo as follows: “Exceptional ability with the puck. Can hold it to allow play to develop, is an excellent passer and he creates offense at every turn. Plays with a confidence and is able to play all night long. Exceptional vision and poise and productive.”
The Lightning were scheduled to pick at No.28 too, but they traded that pick later in the night to the New York Islanders for the 35th and 57th overall picks in the 2014 NHL Draft.