Ivan Demidov loses to Tony DeAngelo, who leaves the KHL.

Since the beginning of the season, Tony DeAngelo has been part of Ivan Demidov’s team, SKA of the KHL.

I don’t know how good the controversial former NHL player is as a role model for a young player like Demidov… but on the ice, having a defenseman of his talent certainly doesn’t hurt.

And DeAngelo clearly seems to love Demidov’s talent. He has never hidden that.

Tony DeAngelo on his SKA teammate Ivan Demidov:

“He’s a world class talent.” pic.twitter.com/MquCezzi8b

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 25, 2024

But now we learn that we have to talk about all of this in the past tense. DeAngelo is no longer a member of SKA, according to what the Russian team recently announced.

Officially, it is for family reasons that the end of the association between DeAngelo and SKA was announced.

Tony DeAngelo is leaving SKA.

The defenseman’s contract will be mutually terminated, with Tony needing to return to North America due to family reasons.

Good luck, Tony! #hcSKA pic.twitter.com/SJxzrS0l1o

— SKA Ice Hockey Club (@hcSKA_News) January 14, 2025

Obviously, we have to wonder what prompted the defenseman to leave. Maybe there really is something with his family, but it’s sometimes a term that can have a broad meaning.

Note that I do not expect to see SKA agreeing to say goodbye to him so that he can finish the season in the NHL. I would be very surprised to see him bounce back with one of the 32 clubs in the Bettman circuit to finish the season.

In my eyes, his season is probably over.

In 34 games in St. Petersburg, DeAngelo scored six times and recorded 26 assists. He has thus flirted with the point-per-game mark, confirming that he can still help a hockey club offensively.

Quick Hits
– To watch out for in the afternoon.

The Canadiens will not practice this morning. Only the extras (and the starting goalie?) may get on the ice in Salt Lake City.

Martin St-Louis should meet the media around 2:00 PM Quebec time.

Reminder: CH vs Utah at 9:00 PM Quebec time.

— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) January 14, 2025

– Jakub Dobes: not everything is perfect. [JdeM]

– Incredible.

Some fans have crossed the line https://t.co/TEwke6SeLR

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) January 14, 2025