Colorado Avalanche Free Agency Profile: Calvin de Haan
The Colorado Avalanche are sticking to the plan of developing prospects. However, they may pick up another defenseman in free agency.
The Colorado Avalanche have a pretty good slate of defensemen. They have their cornerstone in Erik Johnson, their rover in Tyson Barrie, and the heir apparent Nikita Zadorov. Samuel Girard heralds a commitment to the new style of puck-moving defensemen. In addition to those core four, they have a capable supporting cast.
So, Colorado has some defensive depth. However, can you ever have too much defensive depth?When you look at teams like the Nashville Predators or Columbus Blue Jackets, the answer is no. And those are both teams the Avs would like to pattern themselves after.
With that in mind, they may well try to pick up a defenseman during the 2018 NHL Free Agency.
Calvin de Haan
Age: 27
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 197 lbs.
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Previous Contract: 1 year, AAV $3.3 million
Previous Teams: New York Islanders
Defenseman Calvin de Haan has spent his entire career with the New York Islanders. However, he’s coming up as an unrestricted free agent for the first time this year.
De Haan is known as being a solid, puck-moving defenseman. He’s not going to wow you with any of his skills. He’s not overly physical, which keeps him from being a shutdown defenseman.
That said, de Haan is a safe player. His game is reliable and low-maintenance. And that puck-moving really sets him apart. What’s more, Calvin de Haan is known as being an excellent skater.
This season, Calvin de Haan recorded a goal and 11 assists in 33 games. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury took him out of commission for the season in mid-December. That said, in 304 NHL games, de Haan has 12 goals and 69 assists. He’s a +26, for what that’s worth.
Calvin de Haan and the Colorado Avalanche
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Calvin de Haan’s skill set fits in with the Colorado Avalanche model. He’s an excellent skater and known for being an old-hand at the new style of puck moving defensemen. Bringing him on as a mentor for Girard and Conor Timmins, when he joins the team, might be a motivating factor.
That said, de Haan is coming off a contract worth $3.3 million in a year. The Avs have the cap space, but that’s a lot to spend on a guy you think of mostly as a mentor.
On the flip side, the Avs have never gotten Johnson or Barrie a reliable defensive partner. Cole de Haan would complement either player, but especially Johnson. EJ could be freed to play more of his two-way game instead of having to focus on a shut-down role if he had a responsible partner.
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The money won’t be the issue. The Colorado Avalanche don’t hand out three-year contracts like they’re candy anymore. I’d say that, if they do sign Cole de Haan, he’d get two years at most. That would be a fine acquisition for Colorado as the defenseman is in his prime right now so won’t even fall into aging veteran status but the end of such a deal.