The thing about Calvin de Haan: Does he stay or go?
The Blackhawks' blue lines haven't been the same since losing players such as Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. You can see the struggle for consistency every time there's a new rookie on the ice trying to make a name for themselves. One of the only defensemen the Hawks have been able to count on, love him or hate him, is Calvin de Haan.
de Haan is the oldest defenseman on the team and played on the Hawks for the past three seasons. He's good at keeping the puck out of reach from the other team, and he isn't afraid of blocking shots (he even fractured his left tibia doing so, playing on a broken leg for the rest of the 2020-2021 season.)
With his commitment to keeping the puck out of the net, he's sustained a few injuries along the way, needing maintenance days from time to time throughout the season. Even so, when he shows up he's able to deliver and help out whoever he's paired with.
The 2021-2022 season was the last one on his contract, and he'll be an unrestricted free agent come July 13. Whether he stays or goes comes down to three things: Kyle Davidson wanting him back, de Haan wanting to stay, and whether or not he receives a better offer somewhere else.
Thinking back to before the trade deadline last season, it was rumored that about ten teams wanted de Haan, including Toronto, Boston and Washington. There's also the chance of Davidson wanting to start fresh, such as having a player like Seth Jones lead, but what would that look like?
Above all else, de Haan has made it clear that he loves being on the Blackhawks and I think he would stay if given the chance. If an offer comes along from another team he might reconsider, but I can't see that happening just yet.
Whether he stays or goes, de Haan still seems to have a lot left in him despite the injuries he's had, and if playing on a broken leg doesn't prove it then I don't know what does.
| POLL | ||
Are we going to see Calvin de Haan in a Hawks sweater next season? | ||
| Heck yeah! | 15 | 17 % |
| I hope not... | 28 | 31.8 % |
| I don't really care either way. | 21 | 23.9 % |
| What about the rebuild? | 24 | 27.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
