"Lightning's Anthony DeAngelo draws Dan Boyle comparisons"
"TAMPA — From the day in June the Lightning drafted defenseman Anthony DeAngelo in the first round through this month's training camp, the comparison to Dan Boyle has been a popular one.
Assistant coach George Gwozdecky can see it.
Gwozdecky recruited Boyle to Miami (Ohio) in the mid 1990s, before the right-handed shot eventually blossomed into a play-making, puck-moving defenseman and power-play quarterback for Tampa Bay. Gwozdecky says DeAngelo, 18 — who played 13:40 and was plus-1 in his first NHL exhibition game Friday, a 6-3 win against the Stars at Amalie Arena — has the size (5 feet 11, 173 pounds) and skill set Boyle had at the same age.
"We've all seen what career Danny has been able to have," Gwozdecky said of Boyle, a current Ranger with 561 career points in 954 games. "You hate to compare the great players to the up-and-coming players because sometimes it's very unfair. But certainly, some of the qualities you see in Anthony, his ability to be able to transition the puck and see the ice and make plays, they're all there."
Considering the Lightning has tried to replace Boyle since it traded him in 2008, DeAngelo's arrival is intriguing. DeAngelo, the 19th overall pick, needs time to develop and become stronger, but has held his own in his first NHL training camp.
"He was really, really good," said assistant general manager Julien BriseBois. "I'm really pleased we were able to add him because I think he has the potential to turn into a special player."
DeAngelo, a Sewell, N.J. native, comes in with more hype than Boyle, who went undrafted after four seasons at Miami. He hasn't appeared out of place, whether it's hitting Steven Stamkos with a breakout pass or working the point on a power-play unit.
"He's really poised, has a lot of confidence out there, a little swag in the way he plays," coach Jon Cooper said. "So you want that in a player. It's good to see. He's got that wide-eyed (look), and he's pretty excited to be here. And you can see he's got that talent in him, the vision he has, the confidence with the puck. He's fit right in up here."
DeAngelo has been paired with veteran Eric Brewer, absorbing information like a sponge. "He clearly has some very good instincts and some ability that guys don't have right now," Brewer said. "He's going to be good."
Stamkos said DeAngelo is "mature beyond his years" when it comes to reading plays, making the right reads, knowing when to pinch and where to stand back.
"He's known for his offensive ability," Stamkos said. "But for a guy that is not the biggest guy, he's pretty smart out there, and he has poise with the puck."
DeAngelo came from the same Sarnia program in the Ontario junior league that Stamkos did, amassing 71 points (15 goals) in 51 games last season. But DeAngelo also served two suspensions for violating the league's harassment, abuse and diversity policy; both times DeAngelo used a slur, once toward a teammate.
DeAngelo said he isn't a bad person but has made some bad decisions in the heat of the moment. The Lightning has had no issues. "He's a great kid," Stamkos said. "Obviously there was a lot of speculation about what happened with him last year and the suspensions and stuff. We've seen none of that here. He's been very respectful. He really wants to learn, and as an 18-year-old kid coming in, that's what you want to see."
DeAngelo could get reassigned this weekend, but he plans to be back. "I just want to show that I can compete here," he said. "Obviously I want to make the team here, but if not, I just want to leave the impression that I'm closer (to bein
g an NHL player) and that I can compete with these guys. (That's) the big part.""
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hock...-deangelo-draws-dan-boyle-comparisons/2199665
So far so good. Just hope he has matured.
