Patience is a Virtue With de Haan
Justin M. | Sep 24, 2009 | Comments 6
We all remember the Islanders draft party vividly. We all remember the days leading up to it, the excruciating hour prior to the pick, the heart wrenching and terribly false Newsday report which had the Islanders all-but-certainly selecting Matt Duchene first overall, and then finally, the euphoric explosion that centered at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and quickly had its ripple effect across all of Islanders Country once John Tavares was selected by Garth Snow.
What came shortly following that pick was truly unexpected…
Garth Snow and company, who also had the 26th overall pick thanks to a fine trade earlier in the year with the Ottawa Senators, began their process of going after that “targeted player.” By moving up first from 26th to 16th, and then unexpectedly from 16th to 12th, the Islanders obviously had their minds set on one specific player who probably wouldn’t have been their much longer. With Zach Kassian, Chris Kreider, Jordan Schroeder, and many other big names still left on the board to help the Islanders weak offense, Garth Snow made a surprise splash by selecting Calvin de Haan, the projected 26th overall pick.
Why, you ask, is this significant nearly three months after it happened? That answer is simple: Scott Gordon and Garth Snow are apparently thinking about keeping the youngster around for his first NHL season. If the Islanders go through with this, and sign him to an entry-level contract, I will be the first to say I am not a fan of this move. I don’t even think I’d advocate keeping him up here for nine games this season, and guaranteeing the beginning of his contract next year.
The average defenseman in hockey, upon being drafted, takes anywhere from two to five years to develop into a true top-six NHL defenseman. This estimate is obviously taking into account the fact that the kid has the potential and desire to work himself into an NHL defenseman, and isn’t just some early or late-round dud. Furthermore, this estimate does not include above-average star-players who can make the jump into the NHL right away, a la Victor Hedman (yes, I really do think he will be very successful in his first year).
Do not take my antipathy towards keeping him on the NHL roster this year as me disliking the player and/or the selection. On the contrary, I actually think the selection of Calvin de Haan was a rather intelligent pick for the Islanders, and I do think that he has loads of potential as a number two defenseman who can also run the power-play in the future. His above-average speed, his quick-feet, his excellent stick-handling abilities, and his vision for the game will allow him to develop into an excellent new-NHL type defenseman who can play both on both sides of the puck.
The reason I am against him staying on the island is simple. Calvin de Haan truly needs to develop and mature further as a hockey player and athlete before he can begin his development as an NHL player. While he may be of average height for an NHL player, he is still underweight, and not nearly strong enough to be working against some of the most talented, strong, and intelligent hockey players in the world. I just think it would be a shot to his confidence when he is getting run over numerous times.
While he has done well in his preseason games, it must be remembered that he has been going up against players from other teams who also will be sent down to juniors and the American Hockey League. Can you truly envision, at this moment in time, de Haan being able to press and contain Atlantic Division players such as Jordan Staal, Travis Zajac, and Daniel Briere?
Garth Snow, who is finally doing this rebuild in the proper manner, should continue to follow his stringent rules and allow the development to happen naturally. By allowing de Haan to put on muscle and develop his game further with his junior team in Canada this season, both the Islanders and de Haan will benefit in the long term. By rushing him into the NHL immediately, de Haan is going to be faced with a quick adjustment process, a shot to his confidence which is flying high after going 12th overall, and he may develop bad habits to compensate for his immaturity and lack of strength.
We all know the expectations for the Islanders this season. Calvin de Haan is not going to make the projected 15th place Islanders into a playoff team. The Islanders might as well allow him to develop properly so that when he steps on the ice next season, he will be truly ready to make a difference.
Wouldn’t you agree?
-Justin (IslesNet@Gmail.Com)
Filed Under: New York Islanders • Prospects
I don’t think having him up for 9 games is a crime. Send him back to juniors after that. He’ll take back with him the knowledge of what he needs to work on to improve and succeed in the NHL.
excellent points. I agree with you. Why rush the kid? He is very skinny and needs to put on some weight, that is not disputable.
No need to rush him but he IS playing very well in all zones right now. For my money he looks like Mark Streit part 2 in the making – minus the shot of Streit, but to be fair, he’s been playing well with the puck on his stick. If he shines vs. the Devils, look for him to see 9 games early on, especially if the rash of injuries continues.
If you look around the league, there are many vets getting pushed out in favor of some very young players with skill.
While you make perfect sense in your rational, you could also look at Josh Bailey who was in the same boat last year. And while it took Bailey awhile to catch up to the NHL game, it was an investment well worth it as he now has a full year of experience in the NHL and will turn 20 next week, has gain a good amount of weight, and has looked absolutely fabulous so far in preseason, where he’d be way behind where he is now had he been returned to juniors. So fast forward to next year and ask yourself deHaan with or without a year of NHL experience? I say keep him here, let him tough it out and learn what what’s required of him during this year of rebuilding and stay ahead of the curve so he’s a main core player come next season.
@ Adam – I was thinking the same thing, he does look a little like Streit.
de Haan should stay the 9 games and then go back to juniors. When I saw him play against Edmonton he looked like a great offensive defenseman. That being said, he made a number of mistakes that likely would have led to goals had Gervais not bailed him out or if he weren’t playing against mostly AHLers. Given that the Isles have so many defensemen that have the propensity to get hurt, and given de Haan’s needs to improve physically and mentally I think it could only help him to come up for the 9 games, make some mistakes, get some coaching, and learn what parts of his game need improving.
Calvin de Haan shouldn’t skate one shift in the NHL for the next two seasons. I don’t care how good he’s looked in Islanders’ training camp. He’s not even close to ready for the NHL. Stopping Jon Sim and Richard Park in training camp is a lot different than stopping Sid Crosby, Evgeny Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Eric Staal, etc. when it counts. The Isles are going nowhere this year and having de Haan on the roster and getting run over and abused by elite NHL forwards as an 18-year old accomplishes nothing.
de Haan shouldn’t be rushed because the team couldn’t improve the “D” during the off season. I say leave him in junior this year. Invite him to camp next year and if he looks like he belongs, sign him to an entry level deal and send him to Bridgeport. He shouldn’t hit the NHL for at least two seasons.