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Isles’ de Haan eager for playoff return

Newly Re-Signed Defenseman Laments Coming up Short in 2016-17

August 9, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Isles defenseman Calvin de Haan is happy to be back in Brooklyn next year as the team has some unfinished business following a furious push toward the playoffs that came up a point short in 2016-17. AP Photo by Chris Szagola
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Calvin de Haan has had a full week to relish the fact that he will be back in Orange and Blue next season.

However, he’s spent much longer lamenting what could have been in 2016-17.

“It was kind of gut-wrenching to go 6-0 in our last six games and not make the playoffs, but we can try to carry that onto the next season and go from there,” the newly re-signed Islanders defenseman said shortly after inking a one-year deal to remain with New York and avoid salary arbitration.

“Obviously, the ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup and I’m looking forward to the season.” 

The 26-year-old de Haan was originally drafted by the Islanders in 2009, the same year the team took captain John Tavares with the first overall pick. He has steadily improved along the blue line, and spent last season putting up his best numbers yet.

De Haan compiled career highs of five goals and 20 assists last year, but more importantly, he skated in all 82 regular-season games and blocked an eye-popping 190 shots, by far the most on the team and fourth-most in the entire NHL.

His grittiness and willingness to lay himself in front of the puck at any time is something general manager Garth Snow is hoping will galvanize the Isles’ defensive corps, which will be without recently traded blue-line stalwart Travis Hamonic next year.

“Calvin is a home-grown product of the organization and has developed into one of our top defenseman during his time with the organization,” Snow said last week.

“He plays important minutes for our club and we’re excited to have him back for one more year.” 

But even de Haan’s toughness in front of the net wasn’t enough to get the Isles back into the playoffs for a second straight season since their arrival here in Downtown Brooklyn.

New York fell a single point shy of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff berth despite going a blistering 24-12-4 under then-interim head coach Doug Weight, who replaced Jack Capuano in January.

The Isles even won their final five contests without the services of Tavares, who was felled by a hamstring injury suffered while skating behind the net.

“We all want to improve from last season and carry on what Dougie had in place,” de Haan said of Weight, who was given the full-time head coaching tag shortly after New York’s season-ending playoff push.

“Our record spoke for itself, we were one of the best teams in the league after the coaching change happened. It was a fun team to play for and we had a good run at the end.”

De Haan also indicated that he was pleased with the team’s offseason activities. Snow acquired Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle this summer in the hopes of giving Tavares, a free agent following next season, some more help on the offensive front.

“He’s obviously a very talented player and will mesh with the guys for sure,” de Haan said of Eberle, whom he shared the ice with as a member of Team Canada at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships.

“I’m sure he’s excited for the opportunity. To get a guy like that who has a good pedigree … it’s an asset to have that’s for sure.” 

The Isles also announced this week that they had signed veteran forward Stephen Gionta, a Rochester, N.Y, native to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract for the upcoming campaign.

The 33-year-old former New Jersey Devil skated in 26 games for the Isles last season, registering a goal and five assists.

Since making his NHL debut in 2010, Gionta has posted 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) and 95 penalty minutes in 296 regular season games, all with New Jersey and the Islanders.

Gionta had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 24 playoff games leading up to the Devils’ appearance in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

 

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