Tony DeAngelo to start on top pair with Jacob Trouba

I guess David Quinn reads this blog, as Tony DeAngelo will be starting camp on the left side with Jacob Trouba on the top pair.

Embracing an off-hand defenseman is something I’ve been clamoring for since last season. DeAngelo was the logical choice, since he had played the left side before and his skill set works best on the off-hand. This is the right move, at least in the short term, to see if the pairing works.

There is a legitimate argument that Trouba works best with a defensive defenseman. However DeAngelo is a very strong puck mover and a great transition defenseman. I’d expect the pair to struggle defensively, especially since DeAngelo is lacking there. The DeAngelo – Trouba top pair was inevitable, and it looks like they will at least get a shot.