Lightning prospect DeAngelo dreaming of sliding passes to Stamkos

With the 19th pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Anthony DeAngelo of the OHL's Sarnia Sting, and the defenseman is already thinking about racking up assists courtesy of superstar Steven Stamkos. 

“It’s fun to think about. All you have to do is slide the puck over and the chance is it might be going in,’’ DeAngelo told the Tampa Tribune.

The 18-year-old says he heard from Stamkos shortly after the announcement was made.

"He texted me right after the draft. Obviously he played for the Sting, so I thought that was nice. He just said he heard a lot of great things about me and he was looking forward to meeting me at camp and said congratulations. So that was a nice text.’’

DeAngelo led all OHL defenseman in scoring during the 2013-14 season, averaging 1.39 points per game. His offensive prowess has never been up for debate, but questions continue to arise about a pair of suspensions for violating the OHL's harassment and abuse/diversity policy, something he hopes to move on from as a member of the Lightning.

“I don’t really care what people say too much, but it is kind of annoying to answer it all the time,’’ DeAngelo said.

“But at the same time I should be answering it, because people have a right to ask. I took responsibility for it and it’s not going to happen again. So I’m looking forward to it when it’s all about positive hockey talk or whatever it’s going to be, not something that happened in the past.’’

For his part, general manager Steve Yzerman is focusing on the positives of DeAngelo's game, comparing him to a former Lightning defenseman who has put together quite a career:

He’s a guy that controls the game from the back end and can really skate and can really move the puck. I think your first impression of him, the way he wears his equipment, the way he skates, and he’s a right-handed shot, it’s a good comparison to Dan Boyle. I don’t know if he’s going to turn into Dan Boyle, but we’d be thrilled if he did. But that’s who he reminds me of and the style of game that he has.

High praise from one of the game's greats. 

For now, DeAngelo is putting the idea of playing set-up man to Stamkos on hold, saying "I’m just going to try to keep getting better, work on my game and hopefully one day I can be doing that.’’