Carolina’s Depth on Defense Will Affect De Haan
By Glenn Brewer
The most frequently used phrase this time of year is that hockey is a business. The business may not be fair to the human element of the NHL but it is hard to ignore.
Be it the players and staff of NHL teams make quite a lot of money to play and manage a game, a beautiful game at that but these are still players with families and lives.
The Carolina Hurricanes have yet to trade away a player from the NHL roster, which is a relief to many players and of course the fans. Still, the players being acquired will need to make an adjustment to a new city, coach, teammates, and fan base.
What about the existing players that remain on the roster?
This group of players has battled all season long together and individually, whether it be injuries or personal slumps. It means something to go to war with the same group in a locker room. This is the closest to being family that you can come without blood relation.
One player that will be heavily affected by the most recent acquisition of Shayne Gostisbehere is fellow defenseman Calvin De Haan.
De Haan was brought back to Raleigh this past off-season to compete for a bottom pairing job on the blue line. It was a risk worth taking for the player and the team.
The former New York Islanders first round draft choice came to camp and stayed healthy in winning a full time spot on a pairing with Jalen Chatfield.
The pairing has been incredibly productive and strengthened the depth of the defensive core by doing so.
But hockey is a business.
Carolina is in another chase for the Stanley Cup and coming off a disappointing end to the prior season, Don Waddell had to be sharp in improving this team before the trade deadline tomorrow.
What was seen as a strength has gotten even stronger with the addition of Gostisbehere but it likely will cost De Haan a spot in the lineup despite earning it through the first 59 games of the season.
You feel for a guy like De Haan who has done everything the coaching staff has asked of him and has done it well. Now he takes a back seat to a player just arriving but with a better skill set.
The skill set that is most noticeable for the former Arizona Coyotes defenseman is his offensive skill that will slide right into the second power play unit.
De Haan is a true team player and will compete hard in practice and help his teammates in any way that he can.
No doubt in my mind that De Haan will be ready the minute he is called upon due to fatigue or injury but for now he will have to adjust mentally and be ready for his next chance.